Question

During PCR, the step at which the reaction is held at the optimal temperature for the activity of the DNA polymerase is called the __________________________________ step.

Answer 1

Answer- There are three main stages in Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
1- Denaturation– when the double-stranded template DNA is heated at high temperature (~96°C) to separate it into two single strands.
2- Annealing – when the temperature is lowered (~ 50- 60°C) to enable the DNA primers to attach to the template DNA.
3- Extension or Elongation– when the temperature is raised (~72°C ) and the new strand of DNA is made by the Taq DNA polymerase enzyme.

So the step at which the reaction is held at the optimal temperature for the activity of the DNA polymerase is known as elongation step.