Question

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifies DNA following the equation.

Options

• N²

• 2ⁿ

• 2n + 1

• 2N²

Answer 1

2ⁿ

Explanation:

PCR is a molecular biology technique used to amplify specific DNA sequences. It involves three steps per cycle:

1. Denaturation (DNA strands separate)
2. Annealing (primers bind)
3. Extension (Taq polymerase extends DNA)

Each cycle doubles the DNA:

• 1st cycle: 2 copies
• 2nd cycle: 4 copies
• 3rd cycle: 8 copies
• and so on...

The number of DNA molecules after n cycles is ideally: 2ⁿ