Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)


Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

The elegant technique of PCR, by which fragments of DNA can be made to replicate very rapidly, is illustrated.

Figure Legend:

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), is a common method of creating copies of specific fragments of DNA. PCR rapidly amplifies a single DNA molecule into many billions of molecules.

In one application of the technology, small samples of DNA, such as those found in a strand of hair at a crime scene, can produce sufficient copies to carry out forensic tests.