PCR

Question 1

what does PCR stand for?

Answer 1

polymerase chain reaction

Question 2

describe PCR?

Answer 2

= taking DNA or section of it and making more and more copies of it so you have lots of copies to sequence and analyse

Question 3

what is a PCR machine?

Answer 3

• thermal cycler

- able to increase heat then decrease it again

Question 4

what are the 4 key ingredients?

Answer 4

DNA sample
primer
nucleotides
Taq polymerase

Question 5

describe the DNA sample

Answer 5

section of DNA we want more copies of

Question 6

describe primer

Answer 6

copies of snippets of DNA that act as markers to show where we want to sequence the DNA

Question 7

describe nucleotides

Answer 7

normal free nucleotides to make copies with

Question 8

describe Taq polymerase

Answer 8

human DNA polymerase is replaced with more heat-stable taw polymerase that comes from bacteria

Question 9

why is Taq polymerase used over DNA polymerase?

Answer 9

workers better and faster at higher temperatures

Question 10

what is PCR used for?

Answer 10

• make extra DNA
• identify genetic diseases
• identify viral disease

Question 11

what is the first step of the PCR process?

Answer 11

denaturing = 94 degrees

• double-stranded DNA melts open into two pieces of single-stranded DNA
• all enzyme reactions stop

Question 12

what is the second step of the PCR process?

Answer 12

annealing = 54 degrees

• primers = custom-made, short single strands of DNA
• primers are designed specially to bond to sites at the beginning and end of the segment to be copied
• primers pair up with the single-stranded template of DNA

Question 13

what is the third step of the PCR process?

Answer 13

extension = 72 degrees

• ideal temp for Taq polymerase
• polymerase copies DNA by rapidly joining complementary bases to the template DNA strand

Question 14

what are the 3 steps of the PCR process and their temperatures?

Answer 14

1) denaturing = 94 degrees
2) annealing = 54 degrees
3) extension = 72 degrees