Final answer:
qPCR, unlike RT-PCR, allows for the real-time quantitative analysis of DNA amplification using fluorescence, providing immediate data on the amount of the original target sequence, whereas RT-PCR is used to transcribe RNA into cDNA before amplification.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparison of qPCR and RT-PCR Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) are variations of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) used to amplify DNA. RT-PCR is utilized for converting RNA, such as viral RNA, into DNA using an enzyme called reverse transcriptase. This newly synthesized cDNA is then amplified using traditional PCR. This method is particularly useful for detecting if a gene has been expressed because it starts with mRNA.
In comparison, qPCR, also known as real-time PCR, allows for the quantitative analysis of DNA. During the amplification process, qPCR uses fluorescence to monitor the increase in the number of double-stranded DNA templates in real-time, enabling the quantification of the original target sequence. This real-time monitoring is an advantage of qPCR over RT-PCR, as it provides quantitative data on the abundance of the DNA during the PCR process.