What are the major differences between qPCR and conventional PCR?

The major differences between qPCR and conventional PCR are two-fold.

• First, qPCR provides the opportunity to integrate various fluorescent detection strategies, such as using DNA-intercalating dyes or sequence-specific fluorescent probes, to measure amplicon concentration after each PCR cycle. Fluorescence is monitored throughout the entire PCR process, and the amount of fluorescence generated during amplification is directly proportional to the amount of amplified DNA produced.
• Second, qPCR requires a thermal cycler with an optical detection module to measure the fluorescence signal generated. By plotting fluorescence intensity versus the cycle number, qPCR instruments can generate curves known as amplification plots, representing the accumulation of amplicons throughout the entire PCR run.