PCR Cycle Calculator

Calculate DNA Copies After PCR Cycles



Formula

The formula to calculate the number of DNA copies after PCR cycles (C) is:

\[ C = I \times (2^n) \]

Where:

What is a PCR Cycle?

A PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) cycle is a process used in molecular biology to amplify a single or few copies of a piece of DNA across several orders of magnitude, generating thousands to millions of copies of a particular DNA sequence. The cycle involves three steps: denaturation, annealing, and extension/elongation. These steps are repeated typically 20-40 times in a machine called a thermocycler, doubling the number of DNA molecules with each cycle. This allows scientists to produce enough DNA to study in detail.

Example Calculation

Let's assume the following values:

Using the formula to calculate the Number of DNA Copies After PCR Cycles (C):

\[ C = I \times (2^n) = 1 \times (2^{30}) = 1,073,741,824 \]

The Number of DNA Copies After 30 PCR Cycles (C) is 1,073,741,824.