Polymerase chain reaction

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a remarkable technique which can be used for amplification of DNA at exponential rate. It was invented in 1983 by Mullis. In the history of biological and medical sciences, the development of the PCR has been a turning point. PCR with its ability to amplify even a single molecule makes it a highly sensitive and qualitative technique. PCR has wide range of applications in the fields of molecular genetics, systematics, epidemiology, archaeology, anthropology, evolu¬tionary genetics, and other branches of forensic sciences. Moreover, DNA amplified through PCR can be employed in number of processes like cloning, sequencing, sizing and analytical detection (Arnheim & Erlich, 1992).