Taq Polymerase

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Polymerase Chain Reaction

Taq Polymerase


	Polymerase Chain Reaction PCR Overview Master Mix Steps PCR Buffer Primers for PCR Primer Lengths MgCl₂ dNTPs Taq Polymerase PCR Steps Add Master Mix Thermocycler Overview Denature Anneal Extend Repeat

Taq Polymerase

Polymerase is an enzyme with several functions, but most importantly for us it reads the DNA template and assembles dNTPs to form a complementary strand of DNA. The PCR reaction takes place far above normal body temperature for mammals, making enzymes from humans useless, because they break down and stop functioning at such high temperatures. Researchers circumvented this problem by using enzymes found in microorganisms that grow in very hot thermal springs.

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