Final answer:
The statement is true; PCR and cloning using a vector and a host cell are both methods for gene amplification, resulting in many copies of the target DNA.
Step-by-step explanation:
Amplifying a gene by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) indeed results in many copies, similar to cloning using a vector and host cell, therefore, the statement is true. PCR is a biotechnology process that makes many copies of a gene or other DNA segment. It can amplify a region of DNA from any source, including minuscule amounts of DNA found in a single cell, and it does so rapidly, producing millions of copies. On the other hand, in cloning using a vector and a host cell, a gene is inserted into a plasmid and then placed into the host cell, such as bacteria, which divides and multiplies, thereby replicating the recombinant DNA.
Comparing these two methods, PCR is a direct amplification technique that does not require living cells, while cloning in a host cell involves the replication of DNA within a living organism, effectively copying the gene of interest as the organism grows and divides. Both achieve the goal of gene amplification but through different processes.