Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Techniques
The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a revolutionary technique in molecular biology that allows for the rapid amplification of DNA segments.
🌱 Developed by Kary Mullis in 1983, PCR has become an indispensable tool in laboratories worldwide. It works by cycling through a series of temperature changes to replicate a specific DNA sequence, exponentially increasing its quantity.
Steps of PCR:
- Denaturation: DNA is heated to separate its two strands.
- Annealing: Temperature is lowered to enable the binding of primers to the DNA template.
- Extension: DNA polymerase synthesizes a new DNA strand complementary to the template strand.
🔬 Thanks to PCR, we can now conduct extensive research, perform diagnostic tests, and expand forensic science capabilities.