Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is an amplification method performed in vitro, increasing the amount of the target.
- PCR is a molecular diagnostic in vitro DNA amplification technique that allows the synthesis of millions of copies of the gene or DNA of interest from a single copy.
- In each PCR cycle, the amount of DNA doubles, growing exponentially for the accumulation of the amplicon or PCR product.
- 3 steps in the cycle:
- Denaturing
- Annealing
- Extension
The main components in PCR reactions are:
- Target DNA - template DNA
- 2 oligonucleotide primers
- dNTPs (dATP, dTTP, dCTP, dGTP)
- Thermostable polymerase - Taq Polymerase
- Mg++ ions
- Buffer solution
- Water
PCR techniques have a large variety of applications including DNA cloning, analysis of genes, diagnosis of genetic and infectious diseases, as well as forensic analysis.
