Polymerase chain reaction

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a laboratory method that amplifies selected DNA sequences through repeated heating and cooling cycles using primers and DNA polymerase.

Denaturation (DNA): The separation of double-stranded DNA into single strands, usually by heating. PCR heating separates the template strands so primers can bind them.
Deoxyribonucleic acid: A molecule that stores genetic information in most organisms, usually as two complementary strands. PCR copies a chosen region within this genetic material.
Real-time polymerase chain reaction: A PCR method that monitors DNA amplification during each cycle using fluorescent signals. It extends PCR by estimating target DNA quantity as amplification proceeds.
Kary Mullis: An American biochemist who conceived PCR while working at Cetus Corporation in the 1980s. Mullis proposed using repeated cycles to amplify a selected DNA segment.
COVID-19 testing: Methods used to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection, including tests that amplify viral genetic material. PCR-based tests became a widely used method for detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
Primer (molecular biology): A short nucleic-acid sequence that provides a starting point for DNA synthesis. PCR primers define the sequence boundaries and supply polymerase starting points.
Nucleotide: A molecular unit consisting of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base. Free nucleotides are the substrates polymerase joins into new DNA strands.
Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction: A method that converts RNA into complementary DNA before amplifying it by PCR. It adapts PCR to analyze RNA, including gene transcripts and RNA viruses.
Cetus Corporation: A biotechnology company where PCR was developed and first commercialized. The company's research team turned Mullis's proposal into a working method.
DNA profiling: The analysis of selected genetic markers to distinguish individuals or assess biological relationships. PCR made it possible to profile DNA from very small samples.

Linked from 107 pages