AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Polymerase chain reaction (abbreviated PCR) is a laboratory technique for rapidly producing (amplifying) millions to billions of copies of a specific segment of DNA, which can then be studied in greater detail.

Detailed explanation-2: -PCR is a technique used in the lab to make millions of copies of a particular section of DNA.

Detailed explanation-3: -Taq polymerase Like DNA replication in an organism, PCR requires a DNA polymerase enzyme that makes new strands of DNA, using existing strands as templates. The DNA polymerase typically used in PCR is called Taq polymerase, after the heat-tolerant bacterium from which it was isolated (Thermus aquaticus).

Detailed explanation-4: -To amplify a segment of DNA using PCR, the sample is first heated so the DNA denatures, or separates into two pieces of single-stranded DNA. Next, an enzyme called “Taq polymerase” synthesizes-builds-two new strands of DNA, using the original strands as templates.

Detailed explanation-5: -Throughout the PCR process, DNA is subjected to repeated heating and cooling cycles during which important chemical reactions occur. During these thermal cycles, DNA primers bind to the target DNA sequence, enabling DNA polymerases to assemble copies of the target sequence in large quantities.