The specificity or stringency of a PCR reaction can be controlled by altering the reaction:
A) volume.
B) target sequence.
C) temperature and salt concentration.
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By altering the temperature and salt concentration, the stringency of a PCR reaction can be controlled. Higher temperatures and higher salt concentrations increase the specificity of the reaction by promoting binding of the primers to the target sequence. Lower temperatures and lower salt concentrations decrease the specificity of the reaction by allowing non-specific binding of the primers to other sequences in the sample. Altering the volume or target sequence can affect the yield of the reaction, but not the specificity or stringency.

The Specificity or Stringency of a PCR Reaction Can Be