polymerase chain reaction
in vitro method for producing large amounts of specific DNA or RNA fragments from small amounts of short oligonucleotide primers
AI overview
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.
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Article
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.