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Polymerase Chain Reaction: Lab Technique

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PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a laboratory technique that takes specific fragments of DNA and amplifies them using primers and a polymerase that can withstand high temperatures. The materials needed to complete this experiment include the DNA fragments that are to be amplified, two primers (one to attach to the top strand of the DNA fragment of interest and one to attach to the bottom strand on the other end), Taq DNA polymerase, dNTP mix, MgCl2, PCR buffer and the PCR machine. Primers are necessary for the Taq DNA polymerase to attach to in order to begin copying because primers can only attach to an existing piece of DNA. Taq DNA polymerase is necessary for PCR rather than DNA polymerase found in our bodies because when the DNA fragments of interest are heated in order to denature them and separate the two complementary strands, DNA polymerase also denatures. Taq DNA polymerase is taken from a strain of bacteria (Thermus aquaticus) that is taken from the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park, and it can withstand boiling temperatures which makes it effective for PCR. dNTP mix is a mixture of nucletotides that the polymerase uses to create the new …show more content…

The PCR machine is vital to these processes because of its ability to change the temperature based on the step of the process. Step 1 is the initial denaturation at around 94 degrees Celsius where the DNA strands are split into two complementary strands and the Taq DNA polymerase is activated. The next step is annealing at around 62 degrees Celsius in which hydrogen bonds are created between the primers and the top and bottom strands of DNA on opposing ends. During the final extension step at around 72 degrees Celsius, Taq DNA polymerase synthesizes a new DNA strand behind the primers. This three step process is repeated until the desired number of rounds when the samples are held at 4 degrees Celsius to limit Taq

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