Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis is a technique used to replicate DNA. The process of PCR can create millions of copies of a small sample of DNA. What can scientists determine by using PCR analysis?

Question

A.
whether an individual recently produced strands of messenger RNA

B.
future factors that may cause mutations

C.
the amount of time that an individual was exposed to a toxic substance

D.
the code for a unique trait of an individual

Answer 1

PCR analysis is primarily used to amplify specific segments of DNA, allowing scientists to analyze genetic material in detail. Among the options provided, the most relevant application of PCR is:

D. the code for a unique trait of an individual.

By using PCR, scientists can create enough copies of a specific DNA segment to study genetic variations, mutations, or traits that may be unique to an individual. The other options are not directly applicable to the capabilities of PCR.