Define PCR, write the procedure and steps involved in the PCR with schematic diagram and what is gel electrophoresis, mention the instruments used for gel electrophoresis and explain them.
Answers
Definition of PCR
PCR is shorthand for a simple but very useful procedure in molecular biology called the polymerase chain reaction. It is a technique used to amplify a segment of DNA of interest or produce lots and lots of copies. In other words, PCR enables you to produce millions of copies of a specific DNA sequence from an initially small sample – sometimes even a single copy. It is a crucial process for a range of genetic technologies and, in fact, has enabled the development of a suite of new technologies.
How it works
PCR mimics what happens in cells when DNA is copied (replicated) prior to cell division, but it is carried out in controlled conditions in a laboratory. The machine that is used is simply called a PCR machine or a thermocycler. Test tubes containing the DNA mixture of interest are put into the machine, and the machine changes the temperature to suit each step of the process.
Gel electrophoresis
- Pouring the gel
- Preparing your samples
- Loading the gel
- Running the gel (exposing it to an electric field)
- Staining the gel.
Gel electrophoresis instruments are used to separate nucleic acids and proteins based on their size and charge. Used in forensic, molecular biology, genetics, and microbiology labs, gel electrophoresis instruments are used to run and compare DNA samples.
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