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D1.1 PCR

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Total cards: 14•Content version: v4•Public deck•Updated: 8/1/2026

Card preview (14)

#1
Front (Question)

What does PCR stand for?

Back (Answer)

Polymerase Chain Reaction.

#2
Front (Question)

Purpose of PCR?

Back (Answer)

Amplify (copy) DNA to obtain millions/billions of copies.

#3
Front (Question)

Where does PCR occur?

Back (Answer)

In vitro (test tube/lab), not in a living organism.

#4
Front (Question)

Why is PCR powerful?

Back (Answer)

Works with tiny DNA samples (crime scenes, fossils, viruses).

#5
Front (Question)

Enzyme used in PCR?

Back (Answer)

Taq polymerase – heat-stable DNA polymerase.

#6
Front (Question)

Source of Taq polymerase?

Back (Answer)

Thermophilic bacterium Thermus aquaticus.

#7
Front (Question)

Why not human polymeras?

Back (Answer)

Human enzymes denature at 98°C; Taq is stable.

#8
Front (Question)

Three stages of PCR?

Back (Answer)

• Denaturation (98°C, strands separate). • Annealing (~60°C, primers bind). • Extension (72°C, Taq adds nucleotides).

#9
Front (Question)

What are free nucleotides?

Back (Answer)

Building blocks used by Taq polymerase to synthesize DNA.

#10
Front (Question)

What are primers?

Back (Answer)

Short single-stranded DNA that provide starting points for polymerase.

#11
Front (Question)

How many DNA molecules after n cycles?

Back (Answer)

2n2^n.

#12
Front (Question)

After 2 cycles, how many double-stranded DNAs?

Back (Answer)

4

#13
Front (Question)

After 25 cycles?

Back (Answer)

~33 million copies.

#14
Front (Question)

Real-life applications of PCR?

Back (Answer)

COVID-19 testing, forensic crime scenes, ancient DNA (Neanderthal), genetic engineering.