PCR Vocab

Question 1

Polymerase Chain Reaction or PCR

Answer 1

Process of copying segments of DNA

Question 2

DNA Polymerase

Answer 2

Enzyme that assembles nucleotides

Question 3

Taq polymerase

Answer 3

Heat resistant enzyme used in most PCRs

Question 4

Target sequence

Answer 4

Part of the DNA strand that is being copied

Question 5

Flanking sequence

Answer 5

Sequences on either side of the target that act as landmarks

Question 6

Primer

Answer 6

Single stranded DNA fragment that marks where dNTPs can build

Question 7

Primer dimer (PD)

Answer 7

Two primer molecules that hybridized to each other

Question 8

Free Nucleotides (dNTPs)

Answer 8

Deoxynucleotide triphosphates- adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine

Question 9

Denaturation

Answer 9

When temperature is heated to separate a strand of DNA. Beginning of PCR

Question 11

Anneal

Answer 11

Part of the PCR process where temperature cools to allow primers to hybridize to DNA

Question 12

Extension

Answer 12

Temperature heats up to allow free nucleotides to hybridize

Question 13

Hybridize

Answer 13

Process where molecules bond together to create a double strand

Question 14

Cycle

Answer 14

Denature, anneal, extension

Question 15

Amplification

Answer 15

to copy

Question 16

Amplicon

Answer 16

The product of amplification

Question 17

Sequence length

Answer 17

Amount of base pairs (bps)

Question 18

5’

Answer 18

Beginning

Question 19

3’

Answer 19

End

Question 20

Template strand

Answer 20

The sample of DNA that contains the target sequence

Question 21

Thermocycler

Answer 21

Technology used for PCR

Question 22

Master Mix

Answer 22

A mix of all PCR agents (such as polymerase, dNTPs, etc.)

Question 23

Coenzyme Magnesium chloride

Answer 23

Supports polymerase enzymes. Not enough will results in PCR failure, and too much results with non-specific amplification.

Question 24

Aliquot

Answer 24

To separate a portion of the serum and place in a different tube

Question 25

GMO Positive Control PCR

Answer 25

Process of PCR that tests for the presence of genetically modified DNA

Question 26

Extraction buffer

Answer 26

Extracts DNA

Question 27

Promoter and Terminator

Answer 27

Promoter gene is where RNA polymerase binds to allow transcription. Terminator gene is a section that causes RNA polymerase to stop transcription.