PCR Full Form

Polymerase Chain Reaction is abbreviated as PCR. The basic method followed in the PCR technique is that a small specific DNA segment is amplified millions or billions of times. This process takes place rapidly in the laboratory. It produces many duplicates of the DNA, which must be studied in greater detail. There are certain steps by which the polymerase chain reaction is carried out. We will further discuss the steps and importance of this procedure. This method has a higher level of application in molecular biology and the analysis of DNA.

Polymerase Chain Reaction

The polymerase chain reaction is a scientific process in the laboratory. It produces millions of copies of the specific part of the DNA segment, which has to be studied in detail. This process is rapid and takes place in the presence of thermostable DNA polymerase, Taq polymerase, and region-specific DNA primers. The DNA segment of which the copies have to be produced can be any part of the DNA required by the one who is experimenting. Forensic scientists also use this to match the DNA of suspects.

Requirements

• Taq Polymerase

A DNA polymerase enzyme is required; it has a function for making new strands of DNA that use the existing strands. The Taq polymerase is isolated from the very stable bacteria towards heat named Thermus aquaticus. This specific DNA polymerase is used because it is very stable at high temperatures. This favours the high-temperature process of polymerase chain reaction, around 70°C because the DNA strands need to be denatured. Hence this Taq polymerase is the aptest for this reaction because of its heat stability.

• PCR primers

The primers are also very necessary for the polymerase chain reaction as it produces a sequence of nucleotides that serve as the initial beginning point for the synthesis of DNA. It is equally important as the DNA polymerase in the process. The primers produce the nucleotides at the given region of the DNA, which is decided by the one experimenting and initiates the amplification of DNA. The complementary base pairing is how the primers bind to the DNA templates. So primers are single strands of DNA with around 20 nucleotides in them, and two primers are used in the Polymerase chain reaction.

The Steps of Polymerase Chain Reaction

The basic requirements for the polymerase chain reaction are Taq polymerase, nucleotides, template DNA, and primers. These are put through heating and cooling cycles, allowing DNA synthesis. The following steps are:

• • Denaturation: this process takes place at a high temperature of 96°C. This process is carried out to separate the double-stranded DNA and produce single strands of DNA, which will act as a template; this is a high heat step
• Annealing: this reaction is also known as the cooling reaction because it takes place at 55°-65°C. The reaction is cooled down to such low temperatures so that the primers can anneal to the complementary single strand of DNA template
• Extension: This reaction takes place at 72°C. Here, Taq polymerase helps extend the primers and helps produce new strands of DNA

This cycle of steps is carried out 30 times. These numbers can vary depending on the number of copies required. However, you do not need to have the original DNA as a primer every time because the new DNA strands produced can also act as primers. The production of DNA molecules is mostly exponential as it can double in every cycle.

Applications of PCR

Polymerase Chain Reaction has applications in forensics where one has to create strands of DNA of suspects that might be found at the crime scene. Scientists also use it in the molecular biology field by altering the DNA sequence and trying out experiments. It has found use in the molecular DNA analysis of archaeological products. It is also used for detecting sensitive microorganisms which are pathogenic.

In Forensic science, the applications of Polymerase Chain Reaction are as follows:

• Tests for paternity
• A tool for creating genetic fingerprints
• Recognizing the criminal among millions of others

In Genetics and Research, the applications of Polymerase Chain Reaction are as follows:

• Mapping of genes
• Gene expression research
• DNA from any source, such as fossils, is used in phylogenetic analyses
• In genomic investigations, two species’ genomes are compared.

In medicine, the applications of Polymerase Chain Reaction are:

• Finding genes that cause sickness in the parents.
• Gene therapy in monitoring the gene.
• Genetic illness mutation testing in medicine

Conclusion

Polymerase Chain Reaction is abbreviated as PCR. The Polymerase Chain Reaction is important in many aspects. This process is fast and takes place in the presence of thermostable DNA polymerase, Taq polymerase, and region-specific DNA primers. It is being used by scientists regularly for many purposes, like creating millions of copies of DNA within fractions of a second. It has found use in the forensic fields, which has been very helpful in developing the DNA strands of the suspect and helps in finding them. This is also used to find out the specific pathogenic microorganism causing an infection in the human body.