Polymerase chain reaction (redirected from Molecular Xeroxing)

polymerase chain reaction

n. Abbr. PCR

A technique for amplifying DNA sequences in vitro by separating the DNA into two strands and incubating it with oligonucleotide primers and DNA polymerase. A specific sequence of DNA can be amplified by as many as one billion times.

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Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

A test performed to evaluate false-negative results to the ELISA and Western blot tests. In PCR testing, numerous copies of a gene are made by separating the two strands of DNA containing the gene segment, marking its location, using DNA polymerase to make a copy, and then continuously replicating the copies. The amplification of gene sequences that are associated with HIV allows for detection of the virus by this method.

Mentioned in: AIDS Tests

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polymerase chain reaction (PCR),

n a process whereby a strand of deoxyribonucleic acid can be cloned millions of times within a few hours. The process can be used to make prenatal diagnoses of genetic diseases and to identify an individual by analysis of a single tissue cell.

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polymerase chain reaction Molecular biology A molecular technique that uses DNA polymerases from high-temperature bacteria–known as extremophiles to rapidly amplify–ie, ↑ the number of copies of–a sequence of DNA in a sample; starting from minimal amounts–<< 1 µg–as little as one copy of a sequence of DNA, PCR exponentially amplifies a target DNA sequence, which has been inserted between 2 oligonucleotide primers through multiple amplification cycles Application Prenatal Dx of hereditary disease–sickle cell anemia, PKU, cystic fibrosis; ID gene rearrangements in lymphoproliferative disorders, determine fetal sex, Lyme disease, TB, Chlamydia trachomatis, ID viruses–HIV, CMV, HPV, HBV, delineate viral link to cancer–HTLV-1, HPV, bacteria, parasites, pathogenic mechanisms–DM, pemphigus vulgaris, myasthenia gravis, oncogene-induced cancer Sensitivity In detecting leukemia in BM–Bx has a 65-75% sensitivity, Southern blot analysis of gene rearrangement, 98-99% sensitivity, PCR, 99.999%. See Allele-specific PCR, AP-PCR, DNA amplification, Fluorophore-enhanced repetitive sequence-based-PCR, Inverse PCR, Jumping PCR, Multiplex PCR, Nested PCR, Reverse-transcriptase PCR, Semi-nested PCR, Touchdown PCR. Cf Ligase chain reaction.