PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction .. if you throw away the fancy words it refers to a method which will amplify small amounts of DNA into larger quantity. The method works like a chain reaction where you put in a chemical which can syntesize new DNA based on the original sample and the reaction will go faster and faster (since there will be more DNA everytime the chemical makes a new DNA strand .. 2 -> 4 -> 8 -> 16 and so on).
PCR is important in any field that involves manipulation of DNA. In forensics (you see this in shows like CSI ) we can identify a person based on DNA from a single strand of hair / skin cells - they use PCR to do this. Small amount of DNA becomes large amounts of DNA and can be generated as much as is needed. PCR unfortunately is contamination prone and is also knows to give false positive results. One popular running joke in the lab is that in Malaysian court cases when DNA evidence is produced, 3/5 times the murderer is the lab technician :p
If anyone is actually interested i can write an article on this but I think this much is enough for the general layman. |
At 9:12 AM,
am interested!!!!
At 9:13 AM,
btw, how does pcr produce false results.. i thought it just amplifies whatever dna fragment is thrown at it..
At 7:07 PM,
This doesn't make sense, the PCR process is not flawed, it is just that the lab technician contaminates the original sample with his DNA correct?
E.g. I kill someone and leave my pubic hair, lab technician performs PCR on my pubic hair (ooooo la la!!) and my DNA multiplies, PCR cannot turn my DNA into someone elses.
Unless I missed something...
At 9:10 PM,
Yeah it doesn't make sense at all. why?