The polymerase chain reaction and its uses in endocrinology

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) represents a major technological development for molecular biologists and will have a great impact on molecular endocrinology. It is a novel technique that amplifies specific DNA sequences with remarkable efficiency. Repeated cycles of denaturation, primer annealing and extension carried out with the heat-stable enzyme, Taq polymerase, leads to exponential increases in the target DNA sequences. Because o f its sensitivity and specificity, this technique is being widely applied in all areas of molecular biology and human genetics. This article describes the basic PCR technique and explores its potential uses and applications to the field of endocrinology.