PCR Fundamentals

Course overview

The polymerase chain reaction is arguably one of the most common and useful molecular experimental techniques employed in diagnostic laboratories today. In the laboratory, the uses for PCR include disease and infection diagnosis, mutation detection, pathogen or pathogenic response detection, template amplification for downstream applications such as sequencing, and various other uses. This module serves as a review or introduction to the basics of polymerase chain reaction technology. Knowledge of a reaction's components and steps can aid a laboratory technologist in improving both troubleshooting and interpretation skills, both of which are important abilities to have and be constantly updating in the laboratory.