Difference between PCR and RT-PCR in Biotechnology

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) are both important techniques used in biotechnology for amplifying DNA.

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction):

PCR is a technique used to amplify a specific segment of DNA using a heat-resistant DNA polymerase enzyme. It requires template DNA, primers, nucleotides, and a DNA polymerase enzyme.

RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction):

RT-PCR is a variation of PCR that is used to amplify RNA. It first converts RNA into complementary DNA (cDNA) using reverse transcriptase enzyme before proceeding with the PCR amplification process.

Main Differences:

• PCR amplifies DNA, while RT-PCR amplifies RNA.
• RT-PCR involves an additional step of reverse transcription to convert RNA into cDNA before PCR amplification.
• RT-PCR is used to study gene expression, RNA viruses, and other RNA-related processes, while PCR is used for DNA amplification.

Both PCR and RT-PCR are valuable tools in molecular biology and biotechnology, each serving specific purposes in research and diagnostics.