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What does each component in chain termination PCR do?
Posted February 20, 2024

Answer

The components required to assemble chain termination PCR are: a sequencing primer, DNA template, dideoxynucleotides, a buffer, dideoxynucleotides, and DNA polymerase

  • The DNA templateis the DNA of interest, whose sequence has to be identified. The four deoxynucleotides (A,G,C,T) function as the monomers of DNA. 
  • DNA polymeraseis the enzyme responsible for building a DNA chain by adding deoxynucleotides. 
  • The sequencing primeris a short DNA or RNA fragment that initiates the synthesis of a complementary strand during the sequencing reaction. It serves as a starting point for DNA polymerase. 
  • Dideoxynucleotidesare modified nucleotides lacking a 3'-OH group which prevents further elongation of the DNA chain when they are incorporated by DNA polymerase during replication.