Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Question 1

What is PCR?

Answer 1

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplifies DNA using complementary primers for specific target sequences.

Question 2

Describe primers in PCR.

Answer 2

In PCR, primers are short strands of nucleotides which are complementary to specific target sequences at the two ends of the region of DNA to be amplified.

Question 3

Stages of PCR

Answer 3

1) DNA is heated to between 92 and 98C to separate the strands.
2) DNA is then cooled to between 50 and 65C to allow primers to bind to target sequences.
3) DNA is then heated to between 70 and 80C for heat-tolerant DNA polymerase to replicate the region of DNA.
4) Repeated cycles of heating and cooling amplifies the region of DNA.

Question 4

Practical applications of PCR

Answer 4

PCR can amplify DNA to help solve crimes, settle paternity suits, and diagnose genetic disorders.

Question 5

Gel electrophoresis

Answer 5

Put DNA in gel, find out information because the DNA moves in different bars’.