Specificity and convenience of the polymerase chain reaction

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Improvements to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) a process for in vitro enzymatic amplification of specific nucleic acid sequences, can be achieved by changing the way that PCR reagents are mixed and the enzymatic reaction is started and by the replacement of mineral oil, commonly used as a vapor barrier to minimize solvent evaporation by a grease or wax. The use of, such mixtures allows for the delay of reagent mixing until the first heating step of a PCR amplification thereby reducing the, enzymatic generation of nonspecific products which occurs when a complete mixture of PCR reagents with or without test sample, stands at room temperature or below. These mixtures increase the …