Noncoding RNAs (RNAs that do not encode proteins),
especially micro-RNAs (miRNAs), play a critical role in tumorigenesis.

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#Unit 13. Methods in Biology

Touchdown PCR, has been devised to increase the specificity of PCR without lowering the efficiency.

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#Unit 13. Methods in Biology

Touchdown  PCR is initiated at very high annealing temperatures, which allow only perfectly matched primer-template DNA hybrids to form and support amplification. The annealing temperature is dropped in a stepwise fashion with each cycle of PCR. 

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#Unit 13. Methods in Biology

The logic for hotstart PCR is as follows, most DNA samples used as template will have some single-stranded DNA. 

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#Unit 13. Methods in Biology

In case of hotstart PCR, After the reaction mixture is prepared, primers can pair to the single-stranded regions in a nonspecific manner. 

A more attractive alternative is to cover the reaction mixture with a plug of inert wax and place the critical reagent on top of this plug. 

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#Unit 13. Methods in Biology

A more attractive alternative is to cover the reaction mixture with a plug of inert wax and place the critical reagent on top of this plug. 

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#Unit 13. Methods in Biology

Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis

The basic PCR mutagenesis system involves the use of two primary PCR reactions to produce two overlapping DNA fragments, both bearing the same mutation in the overlap region; this technique is thus termed overlap extension PCR .