Lab quiz PCR

Bio 040

What is PCR used for ?

PCR is used to amplify small quantities of DNA to large quantities in a matter of minutes to hours

What are the main components required for PCR

Template DNA

DNA primers

Taq (DNA) polymerase

dNTP’s (deoxynucleotide triphosphates)

Why do you need primers to amplify DNA?

DNA polymerase cannot initiate the synthesis of a polynucleotide

The primers allow you to selectively amplify a particular target sequence of DNA

What is an easy way to separate the 2 strands of DNA 

Denaturation(94-96°C)- 2 strands of DNA are heated and separated 

Annealing(55-60°C)- Temperature is lowered so that the primers can anneal to the template strand of DNA 

Elongation (72°C) Polymerase binds the primer/template sequence and synthesizes the new strand of DNA 

PROCESS REPEATED MULTIPLE TIMES (35-40)  Each cycle doubles the amount of DNA  

What is DNA fingerprinting?

Using restriction enzymes to cut DNA into restriction fragment length polymorphisms