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Multiple Choice
During which step of the PCR cycle is the thermostable DNA polymerase most active?
A
Cooling
B
Extension
C
Annealing
D
Denaturation
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the PCR cycle: PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a technique used to amplify DNA. It consists of three main steps: Denaturation, Annealing, and Extension.
Denaturation: This step involves heating the reaction mixture to around 94-98°C to separate the double-stranded DNA into single strands.
Annealing: The temperature is lowered to 50-65°C to allow primers to bind to the single-stranded DNA. This step prepares the DNA for the next phase.
Extension: The temperature is raised to around 72°C, which is optimal for the activity of thermostable DNA polymerase, such as Taq polymerase. During this step, the polymerase synthesizes a new DNA strand by adding nucleotides complementary to the template strand.
Identify the step where DNA polymerase is most active: The thermostable DNA polymerase is most active during the Extension step, as this is when it catalyzes the formation of new DNA strands.