Question

Another thermophile, thermus aquaticus, was isolated from a hot spring in yellowstone national park. it is the source of the enzyme taq polymerase, which is used in the molecular technique called polymerase chain reaction (pcr). pcr is used to amplify sequences of dna. what extremophile characteristic of this enzyme makes it an essential component in a pcr reaction?

Answer 1

The extremophile characteristic of the enzyme that makes it an essential component in a PCR reaction IS THAT IT IS HEAT STABLE AND CAN WITHSTAND HIGH TEMPERATURES. An extremophile refers to a living organism which can exist in an extreme environment, under high temperature and pressure.