Definition of polymerase chain reaction

Suppliers Products Categories Handbook Dictionary Careers
Resources Photonics Spectra BioPhotonics Vision Spectra Virtual Events & Summits Educational Institutions Add/Update Your Listing Exhibitor Listing Portal Become an Exhibitor Buyers' Guide Print Edition Marketplace Help
Subscribe Advertise

Suppliers Products Categories Handbook Dictionary Careers

Resources

Photonics Spectra BioPhotonics Vision Spectra Virtual Events & Summits Educational Institutions Add/Update Your Listing Exhibitor Listing Portal Become an Exhibitor Buyers' Guide Print Edition Marketplace Help

Meadowlark Optics - Wave Plates 6/24 LB 2024

Photonics Dictionary

polymerase chain reaction: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a widely used molecular biology technique used to amplify a specific segment of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) through a series of temperature-controlled cycles. PCR enables the exponential amplification of a targeted DNA sequence, making it possible to generate millions to billions of copies of the DNA segment of interest from a small starting amount.

The PCR process typically involves three main steps:

Denaturation: The double-stranded DNA template is heated to a high temperature (usually around 95°C), causing the two strands to separate and form single-stranded DNA molecules.

Annealing: The reaction mixture is cooled to a temperature typically between 50°C to 65°C, allowing short DNA sequences called primers to bind (anneal) to complementary sequences at each end of the target DNA segment.

Extension (elongation): The temperature is raised to around 72°C, the optimal temperature for the DNA polymerase enzyme to synthesize new DNA strands by extending from the primers along the template DNA, using nucleotides provided in the reaction mixture.

By repeating these cycles (usually 20-40 times), each cycle doubles the amount of DNA, resulting in an exponential increase in the number of copies of the target DNA sequence. PCR is employed in various applications, including molecular biology research, medical diagnostics, forensics, environmental testing, and genetic engineering.

PowerPhotonic Ltd. - Bessel Beam Generator MR 6/24

Sheetak - Cooling at your Fingertip 11/24 MR

Popular Articles

SEMI Global Headquarters - ISS 2025 MR 12/24

Explore Our Content
News
Features
Latest Products
Webinars
White Papers
All Things Photonics Podcast
Photonics Spectra Now
Videos
Our Summits & Conferences
Industry Events
Bookstore

Join Our Community
Subscribe
Advertise
Become a member
Sign in
Contribute a Feature
Suggest a Webinar
Submit a Press Release
Mobile Apps

About Us
Our Company
Our Publications
Contact Us
Career Opportunities
Teddi C. Laurin Scholarship

Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

Requesting information about:

* First Name:

* Last Name:

* Email Address:

* Company:

* Country:

Message:

When you click "Send Request", we will record and send your personal contact information to the supplier by email so they may respond directly. You also agree that Photonics Media may contact you with information related to this inquiry, and that you have read and accept our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions of Use.

* Required

We use cookies to improve user experience and analyze our website traffic as stated in our Privacy Policy. By using this website, you agree to the use of cookies unless you have disabled them.