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Polymerase chain reaction Rachel Randall
1. POLYMERASE
CHAIN REACTION
(PCR)
BY: Rachel Randall
"PCR is the most important new
scientific technology to come along
in the last hundred years,"
says Mark R. Hughes, deputy
director of the Human Genome
Project
2. PCR
PCR is a method of heating and cooling of a small amount of
DNA to make copies for further testing
Billions of copies can be made in a matter of hours with each
cycle taking 1-3 minutes
The DNA template can undergo at least 30-40 cycles always
doubling in quantity
An automated Thermo Cycler that can heat and cool the reaction
tubes in a short amount of time
3. CREATION
Invented by Kary Mullis in 1993
He received a Nobel Prize and Japan Prize for his new innovative method
He was developing it for 10 years since its conception in 1983
Created on of the most monumental scientific techniques of the
20th century
4. WHAT’S INVOLVED
The small DNA template strand to be amplified
DNA nucleotides
Two Primers, single-stranded DNAs between 20 and 50
nucleotides long (oligonucleotides)
complementary to a short region on either side of the template DNA
Heat-resistant Taq polymerase that speeds up the process
5. STEP ONE: DENATURING
break apart the DNA strand by heating to about 94 degrees
Celsius
This gives access to the rungs that contains the nucleotide bases
Stops all enzymatic reactions (the extension from a previous
cycle).
6. STEP TWO: ANNEALING
allowing two sequences of DNA to form hydrogen bonds
annealing of the target sequences and primers is done by cooling
the DNA to 55°C
If the primers exactly fit the template, the hydrogen bonds are so
strong that the primer stays attached
7. STEP THREE: EXTENSION
Raise to body temperature or 72 degrees Celsius
Winds DNA strands back together
Makes more of the needed copies of the template
8. CONTRIBUTIONS
Quicker, simpler and more reliable results for more tests like…
Gene Expression Analysis
The diagnosis of an infectious disease
Human genetic testing
10. ETHICS
Unethical since DNA is produced so quickly and easily, it might be
possible for outside sources to obtain a copy of it for their own use
without the owner's permission
May prevent insurance companies from insuring a person if the
have a segment of their DNA that shows they have or carry the
genes for a fatal or deadly disease
Also, some people think the genetic engineering is unethical
altogether, and believe that DNA should be left alone to replicate
naturally in the cell