Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Real Time RT-PCR02:57

Real Time RT-PCR

Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, or Real-time RT-PCR, is an analytical tool used to determine the expression level of target genes. The method involves converting mRNA to complementary DNA with the help of an enzyme known as reverse transcriptase, followed by the PCR amplification of the cDNA. These two processes can be performed simultaneously in a single tube or separately as a two-step reaction.
The real-time quantification of the number of amplified products is...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Halos and Hemoptysis: A Case of Intrapulmonary Sequestration Masquerading as a Pulmonary Aspergilloma.

Case reports in pulmonology·2026
Same author

The MutRS quorum-sensing system controls lantibiotic mutacin production in the human pathogen <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

The pneumococcal bacteriocin streptococcin B is produced as part of the early competence cascade and promotes intraspecies competition.

mBio·2024
Same author

Development and Implementation of a Virtual Cell Culture Lab Practical for an Introductory BME Lab Course.

Biomedical engineering education·2024
Same author

Deep model predictive control of gene expression in thousands of single cells.

Nature communications·2024
Same author

BacterAI maps microbial metabolism without prior knowledge.

Nature microbiology·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Serum and Plasma Copy Number Detection Using Real-time PCR
09:21

Serum and Plasma Copy Number Detection Using Real-time PCR

Published on: December 15, 2017

Laboratory Exercise to Measure Plasmid Copy Number by qPCR.

Benjamin David1, Jinbei Li1, Faisal Masood1,2

  • 1Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA.

Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education
|October 1, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study presents a 2-hour quantitative PCR (qPCR) lab activity for undergraduates to measure plasmid copy number. Students learn PCR mechanisms and troubleshoot reactions using real data.

Keywords:
laboratory instructionqPCR

More Related Videos

A Simple, Rapid, and Quantitative Assay to Measure Repair of DNA-protein Crosslinks on Plasmids Transfected into Mammalian Cells
11:58

A Simple, Rapid, and Quantitative Assay to Measure Repair of DNA-protein Crosslinks on Plasmids Transfected into Mammalian Cells

Published on: March 5, 2018

Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics
09:23

Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics

Published on: January 5, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Serum and Plasma Copy Number Detection Using Real-time PCR
09:21

Serum and Plasma Copy Number Detection Using Real-time PCR

Published on: December 15, 2017

A Simple, Rapid, and Quantitative Assay to Measure Repair of DNA-protein Crosslinks on Plasmids Transfected into Mammalian Cells
11:58

A Simple, Rapid, and Quantitative Assay to Measure Repair of DNA-protein Crosslinks on Plasmids Transfected into Mammalian Cells

Published on: March 5, 2018

Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics
09:23

Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics

Published on: January 5, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biotechnology Education

Background:

  • Quantitative PCR (qPCR) is a versatile technique in biological research.
  • Educational laboratories can leverage qPCR to enhance understanding of PCR mechanisms and data analysis.
  • Troubleshooting PCR reactions, such as analyzing melt curves, is crucial for experimental success.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a concise (2-hour) laboratory activity demonstrating qPCR.
  • To enable quantification of plasmid copy number (CN) in transformed cells.
  • To provide an educational tool for undergraduate courses in recombinant DNA technology.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized quantitative PCR (qPCR) to measure cycle threshold (Ct) values.
  • Quantified plasmid copy number (CN) by targeting both a genomic gene and a plasmid gene.
  • Employed transformed bacterial cells as the template for qPCR analysis.

Main Results:

  • Successfully demonstrated qPCR for quantifying plasmid copy number within a 2-hour timeframe.
  • Provided a practical method for students to obtain quantitative data from PCR reactions.
  • Integrated with bacterial transformation exercises to create experimental templates.

Conclusions:

  • The presented qPCR laboratory activity effectively teaches plasmid copy number quantification.
  • This hands-on approach enhances student comprehension of PCR principles and troubleshooting.
  • The activity is suitable for undergraduate courses focusing on molecular biology and recombinant DNA techniques.