1: Fundamentals of PCR (MIDTERMS) Flashcards
The process of making/amplifying DNA copies outside of the body/ in vitro
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Vitro means?
Outside of the body
How many kilobase of DNA are amplified in most PCR methods
up to 10 kbs
PCR mirrors what mechanism in its procedure?
DNA replication
What are the 2 reasons why we perform PCR?
- DNA fingerprint (for suspect identification)
- Disease identification (analysis of diseases)
Enumerate the 3 main steps of PCR
- Denaturing
- Primer Annealing/Binding
- Elongation/extension
3 main step of PCR:
→ DNA is subjected at 95ºC for 30 to 60 seconds in order to separate/unwind
→ Mimics the function of helicase in cells
Denaturation of DNA
What temperature and how many seconds is the process of denaturation of DNA in PCR?
95ºC for 30 to 60 seconds
T or F
Denaturation of DNA is a step in PCR that can be skipped and is not important
F (CANT BE SKIPPED since it is important for DNA to be exposed and primers to bind)
3 main step of PCR:
→ The primers bind to their complementary sequences on the single DNA strands
Primer annealing/binding
T or F
In primer annealing/binding , primers bind to target sequence and are chosen based on similarand non complementary relationship with target sequence
F (primers are chosen based on their COMPLEMENTARY BINDING relationship with target sequence)
What primers exist in PCR?
Forward and Reverse primers
Temperatures for primer annealing depends on what?
G+C content (guanine and cytosine)
T or F
Higher g+c content, higher melting temperature
T
Indication of melting temperature of DNA?
If half of the strands are in single-stranded state
3 main step of PCR:
→ at 72ºC, DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the 3’ ends of the primers and is extended
Elongation/extension
3 main step of PCR: Elongation
These are building blocks of DNA polymerase
dNTPS
What temperature in elongation/extension process of DNA in PCR?
72ºC
3 main step of PCR: Elongation
DNA polymerase adds nucleotides where?
3’ ends of the primers
3 main step of PCR: Elongation
In what direction does DNA polymerase run along?
5’→3’ direction
3 main step of PCR: Elongation
What strand direction favors the polymerase?
strand running on 3’→5’
T or F
Extension starts at primers and attaches at appropriate nucleotide
T
Final extension cycle runs for how long at what temperature
10 minutes at 72ºC followed by incubation at 4ºC
T or F
DNA polymerase typically functions at 80ºC
F (37ºC, anything lower or higher could cause it to not perform its function well)
This polymerase used in PCR is a heat stable bacteria purified from hot springs in 1976
Thermus aquaticus (Taq DNA polymerase)
T or F
Size of the DNA fragment produced is dependent on size of the polymerase
F (dependent on the size of the PRIMER; longer sequence, longer primers)
At each PCR cycle, the number of DNA molecules is increased to how many?
Doubled
If you subject your target DNA to 10 cycles, you end up with how many copies of DNA?
1, 024 copies of DNA
(2^n lng bb)