4C: Polymerase Chain Reaction

Question 1

Polymerase Chain Reaction

Answer 1

a DNA manipulation technique used to amplify DNA by making many identical copies of DNA from a small initial sample

• Can be used to paternity testing, forensic testing, analysing gene fragments for genetic diseases
• Number of DNA strands per cycle doubles

Question 2

Materials required for PCR Testing

Answer 2

• A DNA sample
  
  • Taq Polymerase
  • Constantly available nucleotide bases
  • Sequence specific DNA primers to join the 3’ ends of single stranded DNA allowing Taq Polymerase to join

Question 3

Taq Polymerase

Answer 3

a heat resistant DNA polymerase enzyme which amplifies a single stranded DNA molecule by attaching complementary nucleotides

Question 4

Process of PCR

Answer 4

1. Denaturation(95 degrees)
2. Annealing(55 degrees)
3. Elongation(72 degrees

Question 5

Denaturation

Answer 5

DNA is heated to 95 degrees to break down hydrogen bonds between bases allowing the strands to separate

Question 6

Annealing

Answer 6

the single stranded DNA is cooled to 55 degrees to allow the primers to bind to the complementary sequences on the strands

Question 7

Elongation

Answer 7

the DNA is heated to 72 degrees which allows Taq polymerase to bind to the primer and begin synthesising a new complementary strand of DNA