Question

How did the researchers increase the speed of PCR?

1) By using a more efficient DNA polymerase enzyme
2) By increasing the number of PCR cycles
3) By reducing the annealing temperature
4) By adding more template DNA
5) By using a different PCR machine

Answer 1

The speed of PCR can be increased by using a more efficient DNA polymerase enzyme, increasing the number of PCR cycles, and reducing the annealing temperature.

Step-by-step explanation:

The researchers increased the speed of PCR by making several modifications:

1. By using a more efficient DNA polymerase enzyme, such as Taq polymerase from the archaea Pyrococcus furiosus (Pfu Turbo).
2. By increasing the number of PCR cycles, typically between 25-40 cycles, allowing for exponential amplification of the targeted DNA fragment.
3. By reducing the annealing temperature to about 50 °C, which allows the DNA primers to more efficiently bind to the single DNA strands.