Cell and Molecular Biology BIO 171 Laboratory
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Name: LOONG, AIZA ROSE L,
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BANGAH, EZEKIEL MEEGO B.
Year/Section: Date Submitted: 12/1/2021
ACTIVITY NO. 8
POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR)
Polymerase chain reaction or PCR, is a laboratory technique used to make multiple
copies of a segment of DNA. PCR is very precise and can be used to amplify, or copy, a
specific DNA target from a mixture of DNA molecules. PCR was invented in 1983 by the
American biochemist Kary Mullis at Cetus Corporation. It is fundamental too much of genetic
testing including analysis of ancient samples of DNA and identification of infectious agents.
Using PCR, copies of very small amounts of DNA sequences are exponentially amplified in a
series of cycles of temperature changes. PCR is now a common and often indispensable
technique used in medical laboratory research for a broad variety of applications including
biomedical research and criminal forensics.
Objectives:
This activity allows the student to perform and visualize the in focusing on a segment of
DNA and copying it billions of times over through visual scientific procedures.
Polymerase chain reaction virtual lab: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/labs/pcr/
Questions:
1. Give at least three reasons why is PCR used?
• genotyping,
• cloning,
• mutation detection
2. What does PCR do?
A laboratory method used to make many copies of a specific piece of DNA from a sample
that contains very tiny amounts of that DNA. Polymerase chain reaction allows these pieces of
DNA to be amplified so they can be detected.
3. How many base pairs is the human genome made up of?
Three billion base pairs, the human genome contains approximately 3 billion of these base
pairs, which reside in the 23 pairs of chromosomes within the nucleus of all our cells.
4. How many copies of a DNA sequence can PCR generate?
The number of new copies of the DNA sequence of interest doubles with each three-step
cycle. Thus, if the PCR process is repeated 40 or 50 times, even small samples of template
DNA can yield millions of identical copies. [Show Less]