Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a laboratory technique for amplifying specific segments of DNA, generating millions of copies from a very small starting sample so that they can be detected and analysed. It works through repeated cycles of three steps: denaturation, in which the double-stranded DNA is separated by…
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a laboratory technique for amplifying specific segments of DNA, generating millions of copies from a very small starting sample so that they can be detected and analysed. It works through repeated cycles of three steps: denaturation, in which the double-stranded DNA is separated by heat; annealing, in which short primers bind to the target sequence; and extension, in which a heat-stable DNA polymerase synthesises new strands. PCR and its variants, including reverse-transcription PCR for RNA and quantitative real-time PCR, are foundational tools in genetics, molecular diagnostics, forensics, and research, used to detect pathogens, identify mutations, measure gene expression, and characterise genetic variation. The peer-reviewed research collected here reflects these applications. Studies use molecular methods to investigate evolutionary mechanisms in a partially sequenced viral gene and to detect smuggled genetically modified crops, while other work describes template-independent synthesis of nucleic acid libraries and microfluidic, nucleic-acid-based assays for diagnostic screening. Further articles analyse gene polymorphisms and gene expression in disease, applications that depend on nucleic acid amplification and detection. Together these open-access articles span the molecular techniques, including amplification and detection of DNA and RNA, central to PCR-based research.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 49 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Polymerase Chain Reaction, linking to each citing work.