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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Polymerase Chain Reaction: Basic Protocol Plus Troubleshooting and Optimization Strategies
Published on: May 22, 2012
The expanding polymerase universe
1University of Southern California, Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Stauffer Hall of Science 172, Los Angeles, California 90089-1340, USA. mgoodman@rcf.usc.edu
Abstract:
Over the past year, the number of known prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA polymerases has exploded. Many of these newly discovered enzymes copy aberrant bases in the DNA template over which 'respectable' polymerases fear to tread. The next step is to unravel their functions, which are thought to range from error-prone copying of DNA lesions, somatic hypermutation and avoidance of skin cancer, to restarting stalled replication forks and repairing double-stranded DNA breaks.
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