Application of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP-PCR) in the analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP-PCR) is a technique used to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) based on the recognition of restriction sites by restriction enzymes. RFLP-PCR is an easy-to-perform and inexpensive tool for initial analysis of SNPs potentially associated with some monogenic diseases, as well as in genotyping, genetic mapping, lineage screening, forensics and ancient DNA analysis. The RFLP-PCR method employs four steps: (1) isolation of genetic material and PCR; (2) restriction digestion of amplicons; (3) electrophoresis of digested fragments; and (4) visualisation. Despite its obsolescence and the presence of high-throughput DNA analysis techniques, it is still applied in the analysis of SNPs associated with disease entities and in the analysis of genetic variation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). RFLP-PCR is a low-cost and low-throughput research method allowing for the analysis of SNPs in the absence of specialised equipment, and it is useful when there is a limited budget.