PCR+1-2

= PCR Inc. =

Our company helps people solve cold cases. We have solved close to 600 cold cases per year because of our advanced technology. Our company was started by two college roommates Dudley Poindexter and Frank Snodgrass. What we basically do is we use the PCR machines to test the evidence at a crime scene. But unlike other companys we keep our prices fairly low because we believe every case needs to be closed.
 * Summary: **

Frank and Dudley roomed together at Vassar College for 3 years. The reason why they decided to start this company is because when Frank was three his mother was shot and unfortunately Frank’s family did not have enough to pay to get the blood tested with a PCR machine. So the family never found out who shot his mother because no other evidence besides blood was left at the crime scene. When they went to college and Frank and Dudley meant. Frank consulted Dudley about his problem and Dudley decided that he would help Frank start a business so that people who don’t have money can get evidence tested with PCR machines because as our motto says. “Every case needs to be closed”
 * Who We Are: **


 * History of The Technology: **

=
In the spring of 1983, Kary Mullis, a scientist working for the Cetus Corporation, found a simple method for producing unlimited copies of a scarce sample of DNA in a test tube, otherwise known as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA technology has been a useful tool in the study of life for more than 30 years. The study of individual genes of living organisms was allowed through molecular cloning, however, a large amount of pure DNA must be obtained in order for this method to work. Researchers found it extremely formidable to obtain a large quantity of DNA from the original amount of genes found in a biological sample. =====

**How It Works:**
PCR or polymerase chain reaction is a process of separating and duplicating strands of DNA. How it works is a strand of DNA is put into a machine called a thermocycler. This will regulate and change the temperature inside it every few minutes. After the DNA has bee placed inside the cycler you must add the taq polymerase and primers as well as the deoxynucleotides. When the DNA is heated to a temperature of around 90 degrees Celsius, this is called the denaturing phase. It starts to separate into the two separate strands. Once the DNA is separated the temperature is lowered to 50 degrees Celsius, Which is the annealing phase. The primers then attach themselves to the complimentary sections of DNA. Once the primers are attached the temperature is raised to about 75 degrees Celsius so the taq polymerase can start forming complimentary sections on the DNA, this is called the elongation phase. After this is completed the cycle is repeated around 30 - 40 times leaving you with over 1 billion identical samples.


 * Pictures: **

PCR is used in cloning, gene expression, analysis, genotyping, sequencing, and mutagenesis. PCR analysis was developed in the early 1980s and has become very useful and widely supported technique for analyzing DNA. This technique creates millions of precise DNA replications from a single sample of DNA. PCR analysis can analyze samples as tiny as a skin cell and extremely tiny sample sizes even if degraded. It has many applications such as paternity testing and criminal investigations. It can also be used to detect cancers. PCR can be used to make changes to the nucleotide sequence of DNA this is called PCR mutagenesis. This method can alter amino acids to test the functions of domains in a protein. PCR has helped study many different viruses such as HIV, HVC, hepatitis B virus, human papillomavirus, and cytomegalovirus.
 * Current uses of PCR: **

Many PCR vendors agree that in the next year PCR technology will be capable of targeting mRNA’s. We can also identify, in certain diseases, the actual molecular change that causes the visible clinical syndrome. An example is the simple base substitutions, minor alterations in the rungs of the normal DNA ladder, the changes that cause sickle cell anemia. Current progress is being made in identifying the genetic mutations that cause these changes. The goal is the use of gene therapy to cure or ameliorate sickle cell anemia and, eventually, other previously incurable conditions. Due to the rapidly increasing advances in PCR technology, it would be no surprise to see PCR used in many clinics in the next few years. Soon we will be able to make larger copies of DNA strands. Larger strands will be used commonly for drug screening, sexually transmitted diseases and genetic testing of animal and plant hybrids.
 * Future Uses of PCR: **

**References: **
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"PCR Animation." Max Animations. Web. 21 Dec. 2010. <http://www.maxanim.com/genetics/PCR/PCR.htm>.

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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"Polymerase Chain Reaction." Access Excellence @ the National Health Museum. Web. 20 Dec. 2010. <http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/CT/polymerase_chain_reaction.php>.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"Polymerase Chain Reaction - Xeroxing DNA." Access Excellence @ the National Health Museum. Web. 20 Dec. 2010. <http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/IE/PCR_Xeroxing_DNA.php>.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">"PCR AND CLONING: A TECHNOLOGY for the 21st CENTURY." Science. Web. 20 Dec. 2010. <http://www.sciencemag.org/site/products/pcr.xhtml>.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">“Thermal Cycler." Molecular Station. Web. 20 Dec. 2010. [].

"The Polymerase Chain Reaction: Applications Of PCR." //Suite101.com: Online Magazine and Writers' Network//. Web. 23 Dec. 2010. <http://www.suite101.com/content/the-polymerase-chain-reaction-a27811>.

"PCR Analysis - Polymerase Chain Reaction - Explore D N A (UK)." //Understanding DNA and Its Relevance to Life at Explore D N A (UK)//. Web. 23 Dec. 2010. <http://www.exploredna.co.uk/pcr-analysis.html>.