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.
