PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) Puzzle

RET PROGRAM: 2004

RET TEACHER: Audrey Levine, Ph.D.

Grade level: 9-12th

Subject area(s): biology, anatomy
Standards Addressed: (Sunshine State Standards)
SC.D.2.4.1, SC.F.1.4.2, SC.F.1.4.4, SC.H 1.3.4, SC.H.1.4.1, SC.H.1.4.7, SC.H 3.3.6,
SC.H.3.4.1, SC.H.3.4.6, MA.E.1.4.1
Goals:
To gain a better understanding and an appreciation for the complexity of DNA replication, the
polymerase chain reaction (PCR), research methodologies, and new scientific discoveries.
Objectives:
- understand the mechanism of PCR
- create and interpret bar graphs
Required Materials:
per group:
- PCR handout
- five beakers or cups (label: primer 1, primer 2, polymerase, DNA, nucleotides)
- graph paper
- colored pencils
- glue stick
Lesson Introduction:
Replication of genetic material (DNA) is a requirement for life. Without DNA replication,
cells can not multiply, grow, and heal. DNA also has many other applications: genetic testing
(paternity/maternity tests), criminal analysis, and research.
Although life requires DNA replication, DNA replication does not require life. Thus, PCR
technology can be born. PCR (long name: Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a method of
producing large quantities of DNA not in a cellbut, in a laboratory. All that is required is a
single segment of DNA, the replication machinery (the polymerase), primers, and a large
quantity of nucleotides. Yes, there is one other requirement heat. Heat is both the reason
PCR can be accomplished and the reason PCR wasnt discovered until the last couple
decades. Heat is required to split the DNA strand to allow the machinery and the primers to
make a new strand of DNA. However, heat also denatures the proteins that make up the
polymerase and make it non-functional (thus, no DNA replication). The conundrum heat is
both required and is detrimental to the process of PCR in normal cells. The discovery that
changed the rules a bit was the discovery of life that exists at the bottom of the ocean living
in thermal heat vents reaching temperatures near boiling. These organisms (like all living
organisms) replicate DNA and have polymerases resistant to heat. Problem solved heat can
be used to split the DNA strand and the polymerase will withstand the temperature extremes.

Mechanism of PCR
Cycle 1 (w/ added primers, nucleotides, polymerase) DNA-DNA
w/ heat

DNA DNA

w/ cooling

DNA-DNA

DNA-DNA

Cycle 2

DNA-DNA

DNA-DNA

w/ heat

DNA

w/ cooling

DNA-DNA

DNA-DNA

DNA DNA DNA

DNA-DNA

DNA-DNA

DNA doubles each cycle

Procedures:
Recommended Time 1 class period (50 minutes)
Before this activity the class should have been introduced to the importance of Polymerase
Chain Reaction and what PCR is. You may want to put diagrams above (or other PCR
diagrams) on overheads to demonstrate how PCR works.
At each lab station there should be five beakers or cups, graph paper, glue, and colored
pencils. Students will have 3 minute cycles to produce new DNA. At the end of each
cycle, students should paste the DNA strands to there graph paper. Give students about 5
cycles. At the end of the activity, students should count how many strands of DNA they
have, the amount of primers they have, the amount of polymerase and graph the numbers to
find the correlation of reactants and products.
Handout:
See student copy of the activity.
Assessment:
At the completion of this activity the student should turn in graph paper with glued DNA
strands and bar graph results.

Name _______________________________ Date _______________ Per. ________

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) Puzzle