Summary: T3 - Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

What is PCR?

PCR is a technique that amplifies a specific DNA sequence exponentially in vitro.

Core Components

  • Template DNA
  • Primers
  • DNA polymerase
  • dNTPs
  • Thermal cycling

Applications

  • Cloning
  • Diagnostics
  • Mutation detection
  • Preparation for sequencing

Key Take-Home Message

PCR is powerful because it combines specificity with exponential amplification.

Literature

Brown T. Gene Cloning and DNA Analysis - An Introduction 8ed (2020)

  • Chapter 09 The Polymerase Chain Reaction