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PCR Full Form: Definition, Types, Role in Life Science!!!

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: September 13th, 2023

PCR Full Form: PCR or Polymerase Chain Reaction is a technique commonly used in molecular biology and biotechnology labs to create millions of copies of a small segment of DNA. This teсhnique wаs develорed in 1983 by Kаry Mullis, аn Аmeriсаn biосhemist. We have come up with an article to know everything about the PCR technique. Read the full article to know more.

PCR Full Form: PCR or Polymerase Chain Reaction is a technique commonly used in molecular biology and biotechnology labs to create millions of copies of a small segment of DNA. This teсhnique wаs develорed in 1983 by Kаry Mullis, аn Аmeriсаn biосhemist. We have come up with an article to know everything about the PCR technique. Read the full article to know more.

The article deals with PCR, its full form and its requirements with a detailed explanation of steps involved in PCR technique, types of PCR, and its role in the field of Life Science. Scroll down the complete article to get a detailed explanation on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

PCR Full Form

The full form of PCR is – Polymerase Chain Reaction

In mоleсulаr biоlоgy, it is а рrосess used tо аmрlify а single сорy оf DNА tо рrоduсe milliоns оf сорies оf DNА. This teсhnique is widely used in the methоd оf DNА fingerрrinting tо аmрlify the DNА sаmрle whiсh is соlleсted frоm the investigаtiоn site. This аррrоасh helрs tо diаgnоse а mutаtiоn thаt оссurs in genetiс disоrders.Using the РСR methоdоlоgy, аny gene саn be аmрlified аnd exаmined.

Components of PCR

  • DNA Template: DNA molecules, such as total DNA from human cells. A specific region of DNA amplified from such a mixture provided the nucleotide sequence surrounding the known DNA sequence. The primer is designed to initiate DNA synthesis at the desired point.
  • Oligonucleotide Primers: This primer is usually a chemically synthesized oligonucleotide, containing 15 to 20 DNA bases. Two primers are used to initiate DNA synthesis in opposite directions of the complementary DNA strand. The primers depend on the primer length, melting point (Tm), specificity, GC content and complementary primer sequences.
  • DNA Polymerase: Taq polymerase is the DNA polymerase obtained from Thermus aquaticus that is stable at 95°C. Taq polymerase facilitates the stimulation, specificity, automation of the PCR process.
  • Deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate: Deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs) consist of four basic nucleotides—dATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dTTP—as building blocks of new DNA strands.
  • Buffer System: PCR buffer consists of Magnesium chloride supplies Mg divalent cations required as a cofactor. The buffer provides a suitable chemical environment for the activity of DNA polymerase.

Steps Involved in PCR Technique

PCR is a breakthrough method invented by Kary Mullis in the 1980s. It is known as the thermocycler. PCR has the ability to synthesize new strands of DNA complementary to the template strand by DNA polymerase. Because DNA polymerase can only add a nucleotide to a 3′-OH group that already exists, it requires a primer to add the first nucleotide. The main components to carry out the PCR are Template, Taq polymerase, dNTPs, Buffer with Mg2+ and, Sterile water.

The steps involved in PCR:

  • Denaturation occurs at 95°C temperature.
  • Annealing (50-56°C)
  • Extension (72°C)

The reaction begins by heating the template DNA to a high temperature (e.g., 95°C) and the two strands separate. The temperature is then reduced to allow the primers to pair with their complementary sequences on the template strands. DNA polymerase then utilizes the primers to synthesize a new strand complementary to each template.

Thus, in one cycle of amplification, two new DNA molecules are synthesized from one template molecule. The process can be repeated multiple times, with a two-fold increase in DNA molecules resulting from each round of replication. A single DNA molecule amplified via 30 replication cycles, for example, would theoretically create 230 (about 1 billion) progeny molecules.

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Types of PCR

  • Real-Time PCR (quantitative PCR or qPCR)
  • Reverse-Transcriptase (RT-PCR)
  • Multiplex PCR
  • Nested PCR
  • Hot Start PCR
  • Arbitrary Primed PCR
  • Touchdown PCR
  • Inverse PCR
  • Colony PCR

Applications of PCR

  • Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) can be used as the main technique for COVID-19 diagnosis.
  • PCR is used for the identification of mutations, carriers of diseases like diabetes, obesity, and neurological disorders, cardiac, metabolic and congenital diseases.
  • PCR can be used as a biomarker for the detection of several bacterial and viral diseases.
  • PCR is used in DNA molecular markers techniques such as AFLP and RAPD and helps in identifying and differentiating plant pathogens and also producing a set of specific DNA fragments.
  • DNA fingerprinting is the main application of PCR in forensic sciences.
  • In molecular biology, the PCR technique is used in cloning the gene of interest into the specific DNA sequences.
  • Genotyping uses the PCR for detection and characterization of normal as well as mutant alleles.

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