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PCR Thermocycler

An amplicon is a piece of DNA formed as the product of natural or artificial amplification events. For example, it can be formed via polymerase chain reactions (PCR) or ligase chain reactions (LCR), as well as by natural gene duplication .

[ edit ] Examples

Artificial amplification is used in research, ^[1] forensics, ^[2] and in medicine ^[1] for purposes that include detection and quantification of infectious agents ^[3] and identification of human remains. ^[4] Examples of amplicons used in these contexts include DNA that has been reverse transcribed from viral RNA and DNA that has been extracted from human hair. ^[2]

Natural gene duplication is implicated in several forms of human cancer including primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma . ^[5] Amplicons in this context can refer to sections of chromosomal DNA that have been excised, amplified, and reinserted elsewhere in the genome and to extrachromasomal DNA known as double minutes , both of which can be comprised of one or more genes . Amplification of the genes encoded by these amplicons generally increases transcription of those genes and ultimately the volume of associated proteins . ^[6]

[ edit ] Applications

PCR can be used to determine sex from a human DNA sample. ^[7] The loci of Alu element insertion is selected, amplified and evaluated in terms of size of the fragment. The sex assay utilizes AluSTXa for the X chromosome, AluSTYa for the Y chromosome, or both AluSTXa and AluSTYa, to reduce the possibility of error to a negligible quantity. The inserted chromosome yields a large fragment when the homologous region is amplified. The males are distinguished as having two DNA amplicons present, while females have only a single amplicon . The kit adapted for carrying out the method includes a pair of primers to amplify the locus and optionally polymerase chain reaction reagents. ^[8]

[ edit ] References