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polymerase chain reaction
Sign in to saveAlso known as PCR
in vitro method for producing large amounts of specific DNA or RNA fragments from small amounts of short oligonucleotide primers
PCR is a laboratory technique that quickly produces millions of copies of a specific DNA or RNA segment starting from just a tiny amount of genetic material and short primer sequences. It matters because it enables scientists to generate enough genetic material for testing, research, and diagnostics—making it foundational for applications like disease detection and genetic analysis.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Research
676,654 papers- Polymerase Chain Reaction.ReviewCold Spring Harbor protocols · 2019Green MR, Sambrook JDOI: 10.1101/pdb.top095109
- Polymerase chain reaction.ReviewThe National medical journal of India · 1992Ramesh R, Munshi A, Panda SK
- The Basic Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).Cold Spring Harbor protocols · 2018Green MR, Sambrook JDOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot095117
- Long-Range Polymerase Chain Reaction.Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) · 2023Kee PS, Karunanathie H, Maggo SDS et al.DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3358-8_15
- Polymerase chain reaction strategy.ReviewAnnual review of biochemistry · 1992Arnheim N, Erlich HDOI: 10.1146/annurev.bi.61.070192.001023
- Polymerase chain reaction.ReviewPediatric pathology · 1990Seemayer TADOI: 10.3109/15513819009067120
- Polymerase chain reaction techniques.ReviewCurrent opinion in biotechnology · 1991Gibbs RADOI: 10.1016/0958-1669(91)90063-b
- The polymerase chain reaction.ReviewImmunology today · 1989Bell JDOI: 10.1016/0167-5699(89)90193-X
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Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- periodic health examination
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- nucleic acid test
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- medical diagnosis
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Encyclopedic overview
A strip of eight PCR tubes, each containing a 100 μL reaction mixture Placing a strip of eight PCR tubes into a thermal cycler
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a laboratory method widely used to amplify copies of specific DNA sequences rapidly, to enable detailed study. PCR was invented in 1983 by American biochemist Kary Mullis at Cetus Corporation. Mullis and biochemist Michael Smith, who had developed other essential ways of manipulating DNA, were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993.
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