PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) Explained

3-Second Blueprint (English)

1. PCR cycles through denaturation at ~95°C, annealing, and extension, doubling DNA to roughly 33 million copies in 25 cycles.
2. Reactions combine primers, dNTPs, buffer, Taq polymerase, and MgCl2 cofactors that aid primer binding and enzyme function.
3. RT-qPCR uses reverse transcriptase to copy viral RNA into DNA and fluorescent probes to detect amplification above threshold.