polymerase chain reaction
noun
: an in vitro technique for rapidly synthesizing large quantities of a given DNA segment that involves separating the DNA into its two complementary strands, using DNA polymerase to synthesize two-stranded DNA from each single strand, and repeating the process
—abbreviation PCR
Examples of polymerase chain reaction in a Sentence
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These include sophisticated machine-learning methods applied to medical data, cost-effective microfluidic and other lab-on-a-chip systems, and faster and cheaper laboratory tests such as rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for DNA analysis.
—
Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 29 May 2015
In an August 2023 letter published in Therapies, Bik and colleagues noted the cutoff for classifying a polymerase chain reaction test as positive was different in the treatment and control groups.
—Bycathleen O’Grady, science.org, 17 Dec. 2024
Your healthcare provider can test your blood for antibodies to the virus using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) blood test.4
Treatments for Varicella-Zoster Virus
The goal of varicella-zoster treatment is to improve the symptoms and shorten the time of illness.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 3 Nov. 2024
But in 1984, the American biochemist Kary Mullis invented polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a method of amplifying very small amounts of DNA so it can be studied in detail.
—David Cox, WIRED, 2 Dec. 2020
See All Example Sentences for polymerase chain reaction
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Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 29 May 2015
In an August 2023 letter published in Therapies, Bik and colleagues noted the cutoff for classifying a polymerase chain reaction test as positive was different in the treatment and control groups.
—Bycathleen O’Grady, science.org, 17 Dec. 2024
Your healthcare provider can test your blood for antibodies to the virus using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) blood test.4
Treatments for Varicella-Zoster Virus
The goal of varicella-zoster treatment is to improve the symptoms and shorten the time of illness.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 3 Nov. 2024
But in 1984, the American biochemist Kary Mullis invented polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a method of amplifying very small amounts of DNA so it can be studied in detail.
—David Cox, WIRED, 2 Dec. 2020
See All Example Sentences for polymerase chain reaction
Cite this Entry
“Polymerase chain reaction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polymerase%20chain%20reaction. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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