Asymmetric PCR

Pronunciation
/as-sim-et-rik P-CR/
Category
Molecular Biology

Definition

A type of PCR where one primer is used in excess compared to the other, resulting in the preferential amplification of one strand of DNA.

Etymology

From the Greek prefix 'a-', meaning 'without', and 'symmetric' meaning 'balanced'.

Example

Asymmetric PCR is used to generate single-stranded DNA for sequencing.

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