Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Question 1

What are the ingredients needed?

Answer 1

DNA, Taq Polymerase, Primers, Thermal Cycler

Question 2

1st Step

Answer 2

Temperature raises to 95 degrees, which causes the hydrogen bonds to break so the DNA strands split

Question 3

2nd Step

Answer 3

Primers make markings on the DNA strand where it will be cut

Question 4

3rd Step

Answer 4

Taq Polymerase binds to these primer markings and starts transcribing/translating a complementary strand of RNA

Question 5

4th Step

Answer 5

This new DNA strand is split as temperature rises again, and the process repeats until a lot of strands are made

Question 6

Why does PCR happen?

Answer 6

PCR happens because we need a lot of DNA to study it well, and this process can make billions of copies of DNA