PCR and Quantitative PCR

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) represents a rapid, sensitive, and specific method for in vitro amplification of nucleic acid sequences. By using specific oligodeoxynucleotide primers and DNA polymerases, the PCR is able to identify a target sequence and then amplify millions of copies of the target.

As a molecular technology, PCR facilitates the amplification of specific nucleic acid sequences to produce a large number of amplified products that can be analyzed by other methods. Therefore, the PCR offers a very sensitive and specific method for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of target sequences. The development of various chemistries for primer and probe labeling has produced an extraordinary technology in terms of performance characteristics.