PCR amplification is considered a high-throughput technique and is widely used for applications in the life sciences, such as molecular biology (functional genomics in particular), microbiology, genetics, pharmaceutical research, diagnostics, clinical laboratories, forensic science, environmental science, food science, hereditary studies, and paternity testing.

Despite revolutionizing scientific research, the basic principles of polymerase chain reaction are elegantly simple and involve a three-step reaction of thermal denaturation, primer annealing, and primer extension.

Thermal cyclers, or thermocyclers, facilitate this reaction and provide a thermally controlled environment for the PCR samples by changing the temperature of its heating block at specific times and by spending durations of time at specific temperatures. Thermal cyclers are also referred to as PCR systems, PCR machines, or DNA amplifiers

Once temperature cycling is complete, PCR amplification results are confirmed using agarose gel electrophoresis. Although DNA can be quantified during endpoint analysis, it is generally considered more reliable to do this using real-time PCR (qPCR).

Besides qPCR, there are a number of modified PCR techniques used in labs today. Each presents its own advantages and limitations, so it’s important to review the basics of the most common methods used before leasing a PCR machine.