polymerase chain reaction

noun

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of polymerase chain reaction

: an in vitro technique for rapidly synthesizing large quantities of a given DNA segment that involves separating the DNA into its two complementary strands, using DNA polymerase to synthesize two-stranded DNA from each single strand, and repeating the process —abbreviation PCR

Recent Examples of polymerase chain reaction from the Web

Influenza B tragically killed Dylan Winnik based on the preliminary finding by State Health Laboratory using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.

— caitlin keating, PEOPLE.com, "Florida Family Devastated After 12-Year-Old Boy Dies From the Flu 2 Days After Becoming Ill," 5 Feb. 2018
There is no rapid test; accurately diagnosing the disease requires a real-time polymerase chain reaction technique, but only three labs in Nigeria have that capability.

— leslie roberts, Science | AAAS, "Health workers scramble to contain deadly rat-borne fever in Nigeria," 12 Mar. 2018
Influenza B tragically killed Dylan Winnik based on the preliminary finding by State Health Laboratory using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.

— caitlin keating, PEOPLE.com, "Florida Family Devastated After 12-Year-Old Boy Dies From the Flu 2 Days After Becoming Ill," 5 Feb. 2018
The signature appears within 24 hours of exposure and can be measured using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a common technique.

— ann griswold, Scientific American, "Detecting Radiation Exposure with a Blood Test," 1 June 2017
Once the mixture is correct, the test plates are whisked into a machine which multiplies the number of plasmids in each well using a process called a polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

— The Economist, "The gene machineRobotic labs for high-speed genetic research are on the rise," 1 Mar. 2018
Influenza B tragically killed Dylan Winnik based on the preliminary finding by State Health Laboratory using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.

— caitlin keating, PEOPLE.com, "Florida Family Devastated After 12-Year-Old Boy Dies From the Flu 2 Days After Becoming Ill," 5 Feb. 2018
Influenza B tragically killed Dylan Winnik based on the preliminary finding by State Health Laboratory using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.

— caitlin keating, PEOPLE.com, "Florida Family Devastated After 12-Year-Old Boy Dies From the Flu 2 Days After Becoming Ill," 5 Feb. 2018
Influenza B tragically killed Dylan Winnik based on the preliminary finding by State Health Laboratory using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.

— martin vassolo, miamiherald, "Tests identify which strain of the flu killed 12-year-old West Palm boy," 27 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'polymerase chain reaction.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of polymerase chain reaction

1985

Medical Dictionary

polymerase chain reaction

noun

medical Definition of polymerase chain reaction

: an in vitro technique for rapidly synthesizing large quantities of a given DNA segment that involves separating the DNA into its two complementary strands, binding a primer to each single strand at the end of the given DNA segment where synthesis will start, using DNA polymerase to synthesize two-stranded DNA from each single strand, and repeating the process —abbreviation PCR