PCR lab genetics

Question 1

What does “PCR” stand for, and what is this biotechnology used for

Answer 1

PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction. It’s used for focusing on a specific piece of dna. Lets you make copies by the billions. Genetic engineering, medical testings.

Question 2

1. How many base pairs is the human genome made up of?

Answer 2

3 billion

Question 3

4. Why is a PCR test tube special compared to regular test tubes?

Answer 3

A PCR test tube is water and salt to mimic inside the cell.

Question 4

5. What are primers and how many were added to the PCR tube?

Answer 4

primers are short and the starting point for DNA synthesis. Each dna strand is a pair of primers

Question 5

6. What are nucleotides and why were they added to the PCR tube?

Answer 5

Nucleotides are dna building blocks.

Question 6

7. What is DNA polymerase and what does it do?

Answer 6

DNA polymerase is an enzyme that copies dna.

Question 7

8. What is the PCR machine called, and what does it do?

Answer 7

Rapid cycler, denatured, alters temp, synthesize new dna strands extend primers

Question 8

9. Describe what happens to the DNA during cycle #1 at these specific temperatures: 950C, 500C and 720C.

Answer 8

95 degrees disrupts base pairing and the 2 dna strands come appart. 50 Complementary DNA strands can re-join at this temperature. 72 activates dna polymerase, extends primers. Adds complementary nucleotides

Question 9

10. What are the “desired products” and when do they begin to appear?

Answer 9

Cycle 3, they are shorter copies that the OG sequence.

Question 10

11. How do you eventually end up with over a billion copies of your targeted DNA?

Answer 10

The desired products increase.