Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Can Be Used to Perform DNA

question 61

Multiple Choice

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to perform DNA sequencing reactions. In this case, are two primers (a forward and a reverse) necessary?

• A) Yes-you can't perform PCR without two specific primers to amplify the region in question in the DNA.
• B) No-dideoxynucleotide sequencing depends on different length fragments being formed and then separated based on size. This can take place with only a specific forward OR a specific reverse primer.
• C) No-you actually need a primer pair for each round of DNA amplification ... so you'll need many, many primer pairs, depending how many rounds you plan to do.
• D) Yes-and it will be important to make sure that the primer pairs are made with dideoxynucleotides that are labeled with fluorescent dyes. Otherwise, you won't be able to detect the fragments that are made in the PCR process.
• E) Yes-if you only have one primer, you will only be able to determine the dideoxynucleotide sequence of RNA, which is a single-stranded molecule.