This page describes the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a rapid DNA cloning method that involves synthesizing primers, heat-induced strand separation, and polymerization with heat-stable DNA polymera...This page describes the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a rapid DNA cloning method that involves synthesizing primers, heat-induced strand separation, and polymerization with heat-stable DNA polymerase. Each cycle doubles the DNA amount, enabling exponential amplification, which can produce billions of copies quickly through automation. PCR is effective for analyzing limited DNA samples but is sensitive to contamination.
This page discusses efforts by scientists to sequence genomes of different organisms to better understand evolution, microbial diversity, and human disease genetics. While traditional DNA sequencing i...This page discusses efforts by scientists to sequence genomes of different organisms to better understand evolution, microbial diversity, and human disease genetics. While traditional DNA sequencing is common, innovations like pyrosequencing offer faster and more cost-effective alternatives. Pyrosequencing works by fragmenting DNA, replicating it on beads, and using light emissions to identify sequences, achieving the capability to process 20 million base pairs in six hours.
