Choosing the Right Primers for PCR Amplification

Which pair of primers should be used to amplify the given double-stranded DNA sequence using PCR?

Answer:

The appropriate pair of primers to amplify the double-stranded DNA sequence using PCR is option c).

To amplify a given double-stranded DNA sequence using PCR, one needs primers that are complementary to the target sequences on opposite strands of the DNA. The correct pair of primers in the provided options is found in option c), which consists of a forward primer and a reverse primer that are reverse complements to their target DNA strands.

Explanation:

The process of PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) amplification requires primers that match the ends of the desired DNA fragment and are complementary to the target sequences on opposite strands of the DNA. These primers should be in the 5' to 3' direction relative to their target strands and should flank the region to be amplified. In this case, option c) provides the correct pair of primers. The forward primer (5'-GGTGATCGGAGCTACGTAGG-3') will anneal to the 3' end of one strand of the DNA, and the reverse primer (5'-TAATGCCTATCCGTGTAATGC-3') will anneal to the 5' end of the complementary strand. This complementarity allows for the amplification of the region between them during the PCR process. Therefore, when selecting primers for PCR amplification, it is crucial to ensure that they are complementary to the target sequences and will enable efficient amplification of the desired DNA fragment.

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