Adv. and dis. of PCR

Question 1

What are the four adv.?

Answer 1

1. amplify millions of copies of target DNA in short period of time;
2. genetic screening;
3. amplifying seq from minute amts of target DNA;
4. robustness

Question 2

Why PCR is able to amplify millions of copies in short period of time?

Answer 2

double every cycle

Question 3

Why is amplifying seq from minute amts of target DNA an advantage?

Answer 3

samples are limiting

Question 4

Why is robustness an adv?

Answer 4

amplifying sequences that are badly degraded

Question 5

What are the four limitations?

Answer 5

1. amplified seq must be known;
   - >cannot be used to isolate genes that had not been studied before;
2. limit to the the length of the DNA seq that can be copied;
3. DNA contamination may affect the result;
4. not error-free
   - Taq DNA polymerase lacks 3’->5’ exonuclease proof reading ability