Final answer:
The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is the technique used to produce many copies of a specific DNA sequence by cycling through denaturing, annealing, and extension phases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The technique used by researchers to make MANY copies of a targeted sequence of DNA is called the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). This process is capable of amplifying a specific DNA fragment exponentially, producing millions of copies in just a few hours. PCR involves three main steps: denaturing, annealing, and extension. Denaturing means heating the DNA to separate the two strands into single strands. In annealing, the temperature is lowered to allow primers to attach to the single strands. Lastly, extension allows a special DNA polymerase to replicate the DNA, creating complementary strands. These steps are cycled through multiple times to achieve the desired amount of DNA copies.