Question

How is gene of interest amplified by using PCR?

Hint:

PCR is a powerful tool in molecular biology, allowing for the amplification of specific DNA regions, facilitating gene cloning, sequencing, and diagnostic tests.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction).
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a laboratory technique used to amplify specific segments of DNA. It enables researchers to create millions of copies of a gene of interest from a small amount of DNA. The process involves several key steps:
1. Denaturation: The double-stranded DNA is heated to 94-98°C, causing the DNA to separate into two single strands.
2. Annealing: The temperature is lowered to 50-65°C, allowing the primers (short single-stranded sequences) to bind to the target DNA sequences at the beginning and end of the gene of interest.
3. Extension: The temperature is raised to 75-80°C, and DNA polymerase synthesizes new DNA strands starting from the primers, copying the gene of interest. This process is repeated multiple times to generate millions of copies.
Step 2: Conclusion.
PCR amplifies a gene of interest by repeatedly denaturing, annealing, and extending DNA, resulting in the production of large quantities of the target gene.