1. Introduction to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

2. What is PCR?
PCR is a technique used to quickly amplify small segments of DNA

3. Amplification of DNA
Each cycle doubles the number of DNA 1,000,000,000 copies after 30 cycles!

4. Why use PCR? Testing for disease Identifying species
Crime scene analysis

5. How is PCR done? +
Mix the ingredients in a microfuge tube and place samples into the thermocyler

6. Ingredients? DNA template Primers Nucleotide bases Taq Polymerase
Buffer

7. Thermocycler Heating and cooling cycles are done in a thermocycler

8. Step 1: Denature
Heat DNA (denature) to break hydrogen bonds to separate two strands

9. Step 2: Anneal Primers bind to template DNA strands

10. Step 3: Extend
Taq Polymerase adds nucleotide bases to the new DNA strand

11. Analyze PCR samples PCR samples are analyzed by gel electrophoresis

12. YouTube
PCR Animation