The Polymerase Chain Reaction in an Anemic Mode: How to Avoid Cold Oligodeoxyribonuclear Fusion

Abstract

Amusing article on psyche and background of PCR. One molecule of polymerase can extend only one primer on a template in each cycle. After app. 15 cycles every PCR reaction enters an `anemic mode´: polymerase is limiting. Hot start is useful to avoid primer dimer formation (cold oligodeoxyribonuclear fusion).