2.1.2 PCR Amplification of DNA pre-lab

The P in PCR stands for

Dr. Kary Mullis won the 1993 Nobel Prize in _______ for his development of the PCR protocol.

• Chemistry

• Medicine

• Physiology

• Peace

Primers are synthetic. Scientists can make them in any sequence they wish.

• true

• false

Why are two different primers needed?

• one for each end of the target sequence

• so you have a backup just in case

• because DNA is double-stranded

• so you have the complementary sequence too

DNA polymerase always adds nucleotides in the ________ direction.

• 5' -----> 3'

• 3' -----> 5'

• left to right

• right to left

The function of polymerase enzymes is to

• add nucleotides to a growing DNA strand

• seal the sugar-phosphate backbone

• separate the two complementary strands of DNA

• act as a primer

Which of the following are ingredients in the PCR reaction? Choose all that apply.

• excess of primers

• free deoxynucleotides

• Taq polymerase

• buffer

• agarose gel

Taq polymerase is an enzyme made by human cells.

• true

• false

Name the process of separating complementary DNA strands.

Name the process of allowing primers to adhere to the target DNA.