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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology pp 1Cite as

Amplification (Genetics)

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Definition

In molecular biology, amplification is a process by which a nucleic acid molecule is enzymatically copied to generate a progeny population with the same sequence as the parental one. The most widely used amplification method is polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The result of a PCR amplification of a segment of DNA is called an “amplicon.” Nucleic acids can also be amplified in an isothermal reaction involving a reverse transcriptase, which copies RNA→DNA, and a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which transcribes DNA→RNA. Isothermal amplification does not generate double-stranded DNA, and it is mainly used for copying RNA. Ligase-based methods, including the so-called ligase chain reaction (LCR), can be also used for specific DNA or RNA amplification. A fourth general method for nucleic acid amplification involves cloning the selected DNA molecule into bacterial or eukaryotic cells, allowing them to reproduce, and collecting the amplified DNA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC/INTA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Ctra de Ajalvir, km 4, 28850, Torrejon de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    Carlos Briones

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  1. Carlos Briones
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Correspondence to Carlos Briones .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Briones, C. (2014). Amplification (Genetics). In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_73-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_73-3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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