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The secret weapon of gene amplification: How to use PCR to uncover the mystery of DNA?
In the vast field of molecular biology, PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is undoubtedly an important tool for decoding DNA. This technology can not only amplify specific DNA fragments quickly and efficiently, but also leisurely reshape the face of scientific research, forensics and medicine. Have you ever wondered what surprising secrets lie behind this technology?
What is amplicon?
In molecular biology, an amplicon is a fragment of DNA or RNA resulting from an amplification or replication event. These fragments can be generated artificially, such as using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or occur naturally, such as gene duplication. It is worth noting that the concept of increased production not only includes the output of amplicon, but also implies genetic variation and its important position in evolution.
In research, forensics, and medical fields, artificial amplification technology is widely used to detect and quantify infectious agents, identify human remains, and extract genotypes from human hair.
The structure of Amplicon
Amplicons are usually directly repeated or inverted repeated gene sequences, which may be in a linear or circular structure. Circular amplicons are spliced together from incomplete inverted repeats and are thought to arise from precursor linear amplicons. The amplicon length during amplification usually varies based on the needs of the experimental goals.
Technological breakthrough
With the development of amplification methods such as PCR, analyzing amplicons is becoming more and more feasible. The emergence of high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies, such as Ion Torrent's ion semiconductor sequencing, allows researchers to conduct in-depth genomic biology and genetic studies of amplicons. In areas such as cancer research, phylogeny, and human genetics, amplicons provide an important source of data.
For example, by comparing the amplicon sequences of the 16S rRNA genes, researchers can classify each bacterial and archaeal genome.
Application prospects
PCR has a wide range of applications, one of which is determining gender from human DNA samples. The presence of X and Y chromosomes is detected by selecting and amplifying Alu element insertion sites and evaluating them based on fragment size. In addition, LCR (ligase chain reaction) can also be used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis, with the help of different primer sequences, to verify the infection status.
In this approach, the test product is checked by a microparticle enzyme immunoassay.
Conclusion
With the advancement of science and technology, gene amplification technology will continue to advance along the path of innovation and challenge. It is easy to see that amplicon plays a key role in our understanding of the mysteries of life and solving medical challenges. What amazing breakthroughs are you looking forward to seeing as the future develops?
