PCR

Question 1

Why is PCR used?

Answer 1

Makes copies of DNA at specific sections

Question 2

Describe how PCR works.

Answer 2

1. DNA sample is heated to around 95 degrees which causes hydrogen bonds to break and the double helix to unwind into two single strands
2. Temperature is then lowered to around 50 degrees which allows primers to attach to the single stranded DNA
3. The temperature is then increased to around 70 degrees which allows DNA Polymerase to work
4. Free DNA nucleotides form complementary base pairs with bases on strands