Question

Why do the cheek cells need to be lysed before setting up PCR?

A. Lysing breaks open the cells so the DNA is accessible.
B. Lysing marks the DNA so the enzymes in PCR can find it.
C. Lysing destroys everything in the cells so they cannot divide.
D. Lysing stains the cells so they can be measured.

Answer 1

A. Lysing breaks open the cells so the DNA is accessible.

The reason why cheek cells need to be lysed before setting up PCR is because lysing breaks open the cells and releases the DNA, making it accessible for PCR amplification. Without lysing, the DNA would still be contained within the cells and inaccessible to the PCR enzymes. Therefore, lysing is a necessary step in order to extract the DNA and prepare it for PCR amplification.

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