Question

Figure representing the reactions associated with Polymer Chain Reaction (PCR).
Name the steps A, B, C in the progress.

Answer 1

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the process in which the amplification of the gene of interest is carried out with two sets of primers and a thermostable DNA polymerase enzyme Taq polymerase. The process involves the following steps: A represents denaturation, B refers to annealing and C refers to extension.

• Denaturation: The double-stranded DNA is heated up to 98${}^o$ C which causes the hydrogen bonds to break and the two strands get separated.
  
• Annealing: The two sets of primers are added which bind to the appropriate complementary segment of DNA strand.
  
• Extension: The Taq polymerase enzyme polymerizes the nucleotide chain using the nucleotides provided in the medium and by using the template strand.