Which enzyme is essential for synthesizing new DNA strands during PCR?
Practice Questions
Q1
Which enzyme is essential for synthesizing new DNA strands during PCR?
DNA ligase
Taq polymerase
Reverse transcriptase
Restriction enzyme
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which enzyme is essential for synthesizing new DNA strands during PCR?
Correct Answer: Taq polymerase
Step 1: Understand what PCR is. PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction, a method used to make many copies of a specific DNA segment.
Step 2: Identify the role of enzymes in PCR. Enzymes are proteins that help speed up chemical reactions, including DNA synthesis.
Step 3: Learn about Taq polymerase. Taq polymerase is a specific enzyme that is used in PCR because it can withstand high temperatures.
Step 4: Recognize the function of Taq polymerase. During PCR, Taq polymerase synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides to the growing DNA chain.
Step 5: Conclude that Taq polymerase is essential for synthesizing new DNA strands during the PCR process.
