Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is an essential technique for the study of DNA.
ID: 188722 • Letter: P
Question
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is an essential technique for the study of DNA. PCR uses a DNA polymerase enzyme from Thermophilus aquaticusto amplify DNA extracted from any sample. In order for the reaction to work, researchers must transfer microliters of sample to the reaction vessel for PCR.
If a researcher has a DNA sample with a concentration of 0.04 micrograms per microliter, how many microliters of DNA must be transfered to conduct a 50 microliter reaction if the final concentration should be 4.4 nanograms per microliter?
Explanation / Answer
1 microgram = 1000 nanograms
DNA sample concentration= 1000 X 0.04 = 40 nanograms / microliters
We need total 50 microliter reaction, and the concentration should be 4.4 nanograms per microliter.
So, we need total 50 X 4.4 = 220 nanograms in 50 microliters.
Therefore, it required 220 / 40 = 5.5 microliters of DNA sample to be transfered.