PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) | DNA Testing Glossary

PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is a laboratory technique used to make millions of copies of a specific segment of DNA from a small starting sample. It was invented by Kary Mullis in 1983 and earned the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993. In DNA relationship testing, PCR is an essential step that comes after DNA extraction. The DNA collected from a buccal swab contains only a tiny amount of genetic material, so the lab uses PCR to amplify the STR regions it needs to analyze. Without this amplification step, there would not be enough DNA to produce a reliable reading on the analysis equipment. PCR does not alter the genetic information — it simply makes more copies of it.

Related Terms

DNA Extraction, STR (Short Tandem Repeat), Buccal Swab, Electropherogram, Genetic Marker

Source

National Human Genome Research Institute — Polymerase Chain Reaction Fact Sheet