After exam 1, which showed that several people in the class are confused on what is required to perform a PCR and on the steps of the thermal cycle, I decided to reinforce the basics of the procedure that were explained in labs 4 and 5.
- Who invented PCR
- The main reagents of PCR
- The steps of the thermal cycle
- Some important applications of PCR
Tomorrow (Friday) students will sing the song in class for the opportunity to 1) properly learn the basics of one of the most popular molecular techniques and 2) earn a few points.
The song: Students in previous quarters have found this song useful and some have even used it as a ringtone... (Warning: Cheesy!)
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The PCR Song
There was a time when to amplify DNA,
You had to grow tons and tons of tiny cells.
Then along came a guy named Dr. Kary Mullis,
Said you can amplify in vitro just as well.
Just mix your template with a buffer and some primers,
Nucleotides and polymerases, too.
Denaturing, annealing, and extending.
Well it’s amazing what heating and cooling and heating will do.
PCR, when you need to detect mutations.
PCR, when you need to recombine.
PCR, when you need to find out who the daddy is.
PCR, when you need to solve a crime.
(repeat chorus)
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