PCRreaktsioonid

PCRreaktsioonid, or Polymerase Chain Reaction, is a laboratory technique used to amplify a specific segment of DNA. It was developed by Kary Mullis in 1983 and has since become a cornerstone of molecular biology and genetics. The process involves three main steps: denaturation, annealing, and extension.

In the denaturation step, the double-stranded DNA is heated to separate the two strands. During annealing, short synthetic DNA sequences called primers are added, which bind to the target DNA segment. Finally, in the extension step, a DNA polymerase enzyme synthesizes a new strand of DNA complementary to the target segment, using the primers as a starting point.

This cycle of denaturation, annealing, and extension is repeated multiple times, resulting in an exponential increase in the amount of the target DNA segment. PCRreaktsioonid is widely used in various applications, including DNA sequencing, genetic testing, and forensic analysis. It allows for the amplification of minute amounts of DNA, making it possible to detect and analyze genetic material from small samples. The technique is also highly specific, as it only amplifies the target DNA segment, leaving other DNA sequences unaffected.