DNA amplification

amplification

 [am″plĭ-fĭ-ka´shun]

the process of making larger, such as the increase of an auditory or visual stimulus, as a means of improving its perception.

DNA amplification artificial increase in the number of copies of a particular DNA fragment into millions of copies through replication of the segment into which it has been cloned, a type of nucleic acid amplification.

gene amplification a process by which the number of copies of a gene is increased in certain cells because extra copies of DNA are made in response to certain signals of cell development or of stress from the environment. In humans this process is seen most often in malignant cells.

nucleic acid amplification amplification of a specific nucleic acid sequence, such as to test for presence of a given virus or bacteria in a sample. Types include DNA amplification, ligase chain reaction, and polymerase chain reaction.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

DNA amplification

Molecular diagnostics Any method used to ↑ the copy number of a sequence of DNA. See Cycling probe technology, Gap LCR–gap ligase chain reaction, Gene amplification, NASBA–nucleic acid sequence-based amplification, PCR, SDA–strand-displacement amplification, TMA–transcription-mediated amplification.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.