Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
Kary Mullis was an American biochemist who invented the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a technique that amplifies DNA sequences. PCR has revolutionized molecular biology, allowing for rapid and specific DNA analysis.
AP course connection
Topic 12.2: 12.2 Visualizing and Characterizing DNA, RNA, and Protein
Kary Mullis was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993 for his invention of PCR.
PCR can amplify a single or few copies of DNA across several orders of magnitude, generating thousands to millions of copies of a particular DNA sequence.
The invention of PCR has been pivotal for genetic fingerprinting, cloning, and sequencing.
PCR requires three main steps: denaturation, annealing, and extension.
Taq polymerase is a key enzyme used in PCR because it is heat-resistant and facilitates the synthesis of new DNA strands.