Polymerase chain reaction

Question 1

What are the three steps in PCR?

Answer 1

1) Separating the strands
2) Annealing the primers
3) Synthesis of DNA

Question 2

What is added to the PCR machine for DNA to be amplified?

Answer 2

An excess of nucleotide bases; A, T, C, G
Small primer DNA sequences
DNA polymerase

Question 3

What occurs during separating the stands in PCR?

Answer 3

The temperature is increased to 90-95ºC to denature the hydrogen bonds between the bases in DNA

Question 4

What occurs during the annealing of primers in PCR?

Answer 4

The temperature is decreased to 55-60ºC and the primers anneal to the ends of the DNA strands

They are needed for the replication of DNA to occur

Question 5

What occurs during the synthesis of DNA in PCR?

Answer 5

The temperature is increased to 72-75ºC, this is the optimum temperature for DNA polymerase

DNA polymerase adds bases to the primer, creating a stand of complementary of DNA so producing a double stranded DNA identical to the original

Question 6

Taq polymerase is described as…

Answer 6

Thermophilic