Molecular biology made easy. The polymerase chain reaction

In the last six years there has been a revolution in the field of molecular biology. Since its description the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has developed from a highly specialized research tool into a routine technique which is widely used in many medical laboratories. In essence, PCR is a powerful copying system. The attributes of PCR give it an enormous potential for use in areas ranging from the rapid diagnosis of infectious disease to the study of palaeobiological material. Molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, oncology, immunology, forensic medicine, and organ transplantation are all areas which have felt the impact of the PCR.