Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
In vitro amplification of specific DNA fragments using thermostable Taq polymerase (isolated from Thermus aquaticus):
- Denaturation ($94^\circ\text{C}$): Hydrogen bonds break, separating double-stranded DNA into single strands.
- Annealing ($54^\circ\text{C}$): Two oligonucleotide primers bind to complementary 3' ends.
- Extension ($72^\circ\text{C}$): Taq polymerase synthesizes complementary strands using dNTPs.
