key term - PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

Definition

PCR is a technique used in molecular biology to amplify a single or few copies of a piece of DNA across several orders of magnitude, generating thousands to millions of copies.

Related terms

DNA Polymerase: This is the enzyme that synthesizes new strands of DNA and is crucial for the PCR process.

Primers: These are short pieces of RNA or DNA that serve as the starting point for DNA synthesis. They're necessary for the PCR process.

Thermocycler: This is the machine used in PCR which alternates temperature cycles to heat and cool the reaction for denaturing and annealing.