Polymerase Chain Reaction

Pronunciation
/pol-ee-mer-ase chain re-ak-shun/
Category
Technique
Singular
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Plural
Polymerase Chain Reactions

Definition

A laboratory technique used to amplify DNA sequences.

Etymology

Named after its inventor, Kary Mullis, in the 1980s.

Example

PCR is used to amplify a specific gene from a complex DNA sample.

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