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Polymerase Chain Reaction: Basic Protocol Plus Troubleshooting and Optimization Strategies
Published on: May 22, 2012
Bias and artifacts in multitemplate polymerase chain reactions (PCR)
1Institute for Biological Resources and Functions, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Central 6, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan. kanagawa-taka@aist.go.jp
Abstract:
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is often used for the amplification of a mixture of homologous genes. PCR bias and artifact formation can occur in multitemplate PCR, and provide incorrect information on the abundance and diversity of genes. PCR bias and artifact formation occur at a higher rate during the last few cycles of the reaction, and therefore can be avoided by stopping the PCR earlier.
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