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Studying DNA and RNA
PCR: DNA Amplification for Genetics Labs
Description
PCR is a DNA amplification method used in genetics labs. PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction. It copies a specific DNA segment so scientists can study small amounts of genetic material.
The process uses repeated heating and cooling steps. These steps let the DNA strands separate, primers bin...
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Transcript
The goal of PCR, or Polymerase Chain Reaction, is to amplify a specific genetic sequence. In this example, a gene of interest is amplified from purified template DNA.
To perform the amplification, a thermostable DNA polymerase such as Taq polymerase is required to synthesize new DNA strands. It remains functional during the repeated high-t...
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