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PCR |
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polymerase chain reaction (PCR)Laboratory technique used to make numerous copies of specific DNA segments quickly and accurately. These are needed for various experiments and procedures in molecular biology, forensic analysis (DNA fingerprinting), evolutionary biology (to amplify DNA fragments found in ancient specimens), and medicine (to diagnose genetic disease or detect low viral counts). Invented by Kary Mullis, PCR requires a DNA template (as little as one molecule) to copy, nucleotides to build the copies, and the enzyme DNA polymerase to catalyze the formation of bonds between the nucleotide monomers. Each three-step cycle (separating the two strands of the DNA double helix, marking the ends of the segment to be copied, and catalyzing the formation of bonds), which takes only minutes to complete, doubles the number of DNA strands present in the reaction medium. Repetition of this cycle many times results in an exponential increase in the amount of DNA. PCR (cell and molecular biology) How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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QIAGEN, Venlo, Netherlands, a leading provider of products for preanalytical sample preparation and molecular diagnostics, today launched its new QIAGEN Fast Cycling PCR product line, which substantially accelerates and streamlines the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Molecular methods such as real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are more sensitive, detecting <10 genome equivalents per PeR, but PCR can only identify short stretches of poxvirus DNA (1,7). Takara Bio aims to consolidate its presence in the domestic PCR enzyme market by increasing sales with the two new products. |
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