PCR THERMAL CYCLERS

The thermal cycler (also known as "thermocycler", "PCR machine" or "DNA amplifier") is an instrument used to amplify segments of DNA and RNA via the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The thermocycler precisely and rapidly raises and lowers the temperature of the samples in a holding block in discrete, pre-programmed steps, allowing for denaturation and reannealing of samples with various reagents. Amplified genetic material can be used in many downstream applications such as cloning, sequencing, expression analysis, and genotyping. Thermal cyclers may also be used in laboratories to facilitate other temperature-sensitive reactions, including restriction enzyme digestion or rapid diagnostics.

PCR is a powerful and valuable tool for biological research today. Scientists in all areas of life science — basic research, biotechnology, medicine, forensics, diagnostics, and more — utilize PCR in a wide range of applications. For some applications, qualitative or semi-quantitative PCR results are sufficient. Other applications, however, demand quantitative PCR results. The nature of results obtained from a PCR process depends on the type of PCR method followed and the post-PCR analysis performed.

Conventional PCR (also referred as "end-point PCR" or "standard PCR" or "traditional PCR") is the most basic and most commonly utilized PCR method. Conventional PCR (cnPCR) is an endpoint assay whereby the amplified DNA product, or amplicon, is detected in an end-point analysis such as electrophoresis using ethidium bromide (EtBr) or other nucleic acid dyes after the reaction is complete. Thus, conventional PCR can qualitatively detect nucleic acid sequences. However, conventional PCR results can be made semi-quantitative by running amplicon on a gel alongside known quantities of DNA. While conventional PCR is at best semi-quantitative, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and digital PCR (dPCR) offers a more sensitive, quantitative analysis.

RotaLab provides high quality and precision thermal cyclers for conventional PCR applications.