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What are the components required for PCR reaction?
Posted February 13, 2023
DNA and RNA QuantitationDNA and RNANucleic AcidsNucleusPCR Detection of Viral DNA/RNAPolymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)Real-Time PCR (qPCR)Reverse Transcription PCR (RT-PCR)
Answer

PCR reaction requires 5 main components: 

  1. DNA template – This is the DNA of interest from the sample.
  2. Heat resistant DNA polymerase – Taq Polymerase is usually used as it is thermostable and does not denature at very high temperatures. 
  3. Deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate – These are single units of bases that provide energy for polymerization and are the building blocks for DNA synthesis. 
  4. Oligonucleotide Primers – These are short stretches of single-stranded DNA that are complementary to the 3’ ends of sense and antisense strands. 
  5. Buffer System – This is composed of magnesium and potassium, which create optimum conditions for denaturation and renaturation of DNA. In addition, the buffer system is also crucial for polymerase activity and stability. 
Additional resources
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