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Polymerase chain reaction

Polymerase chain reaction

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Polymerase chain reaction is a method of finding a specific piece of dna and copying it over and over again until there is enough to study. The technique allows a scientist to detect very small amounts of dna in a swab sample then reproduce enough of it to study it. It is very sensisitive for detecting the presence of certain bacteria and is also used in doing other dna tests (eg paternity).

Dr. R Smith reviewed this

28 years experience

How long it usually lasts:

Chronic (lasts years to lifelong)

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