Polymerase Chain Reaction and Sanger Sequencing

Flashcards covering key concepts and techniques in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Sanger Sequencing, useful for exam preparation.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

A technique used to amplify DNA sequences exponentially.

Thermocycling

The process of repeated temperature changes to facilitate DNA amplification in PCR.

Primers

Short sequences of nucleotides that initiate DNA synthesis during PCR.

Denaturation

The first step in PCR where the DNA template is heated to separate its strands.

Annealing

The step in PCR where the temperature is lowered to allow primers to bind to the template DNA.

Extension

The PCR step where DNA polymerase synthesizes new DNA strands from the primers.

dNTP

Deoxynucleoside triphosphates, the building blocks of DNA used in PCR and sequencing.

Sanger sequencing

A method of DNA sequencing based on selective incorporation of chain-terminating dideoxynucleotides.

Di-deoxy ribonucleotides

Modified nucleotides used in Sanger sequencing that prevent further elongation of the DNA strand.

Electrophoresis

A technique used to separate DNA fragments based on size after Sanger sequencing.

Template DNA

The DNA sequence that is copied during PCR and sequencing.

Exponential amplification

The rapid increase in the number of DNA copies during PCR, doubling each cycle.

Labelled dideoxynucleotides

Dideoxynucleotides with fluorescent labels used to identify the order of nucleotides in Sanger sequencing.

Different sized fragments

The result of sequencing where various lengths of DNA products are produced.