In the meantime, here's a sneak peek, just a small sliceâthe first part of a 2-part excerpt from the addendum of Grantsmanship: Program Planning & Proposal Writing. The topic is the difference between a planning and an implementation (or program) grant proposal. Enjoy!
What is PCR (polymerase chain reaction)? Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a technique that is used to amplify trace amounts of DNA (and in some instances, RNA) located in or on almost any liquid or surface where DNA strands may be deposited.
Best Answer: 1. PCR is used to amplify DNA: that is, to (exponentially) increase the number of molecules of a particular DNA region. And because PCR uses primers, it can isolate a particular DNA sequence of interest from among an enormous, complex mix of millions of various DNA sequences: you can proverbially find the DNA needle in a haystack. 2. PCR is important because it allows scientists to work with DNAs and DNA samples that they previously could not.