NOAA Ocean Explorer: Estuary to the Abyss

An illustration of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Step 1: Solution is heated to 95°C to denature ("unzip") the two strands of the target DNA (A). Step 2: Solution is cooled to ~55°C to allow the primers to anneal (bind) to the ends of the DNA strands (B). Step 3: Solution is reheated to ~75°C to allow TAQ polymerase to synthesize complementary copies of each strand.

Related Links

Estuary to the Abyss

NOAA Ocean Explorer Gallery

E-mail Updates | User Survey | Report Error | Site Index | Contact Us | Disclaimer
Revised February 13, 2009 | Web Site Owner: NOAA, Office of Ocean Exploration and Research
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | U.S. Department of Commerce

http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04etta/background/dna/media/dna_1.html

E-mail Updates \| User Survey \| Report Error \| Site Index \| Contact Us \| Disclaimer Revised February 13, 2009 \| Web Site Owner: NOAA, Office of Ocean Exploration and Research National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration \| U.S. Department of Commerce
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/04etta/background/dna/media/dna_1.html