Question: Which of the following is the first and the most important step in the polymerase chain reaction?
A Annealing
B Primer extension
C Denaturation
D None of the above
Answer: Denaturation
| Steps involved in PCR |
Description |
| Denaturation |
· Heating of the DNA sample to a high temperature usually around 94-98°C.
· This process separates the double-stranded DNA into two single strands and provides a template for amplification. |
| Annealing |
· Annealing involves lowering of the temperature typically around 50-65°C.
· This allows primers to bind to the single-stranded DNA template.
· Primer sequences are specific to the target DNA. |
| Extension |
· Extension includes raising the temperature upto 72°C.
· DNA polymerase extends the primers by adding nucleotides, synthesizing a complementary strand.
· The enzyme builds a new DNA strand from the template.
· The target DNA is amplified in this step. |
