Question

How is the amplification of a gene sample of interest carried out using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)?

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:

• Denaturation: The double-stranded DNA is heated up to 94 ${}^o$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 at 54${}^0$C.
  
• Extension: The Taq polymerase enzyme polymerizes the nucleotide chain using the nucleotides provided in the medium and by using the template strand at 72${}^0$C.