Methods (molecular, IHC, frozen)
Molecular
PCR
PCR-current applications
Topic Completed: 1 January 2010
Minor changes: 8 July 2020
Copyright: 2008-2018, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Polymerase chain reaction[TI] current applications
Note: as PCR applications are voluminous, references are meant to be illustrative and not complete
Table of Contents
Archeology and evolution | DNA sequencing | Forensic identification | Medical and pathogen diagnosis | Molecular genetics | Molecular pathology | Paternity testing | Tissue identification | Transplant engraftment analysis | TumorigenesisCite this page: Shackelford R. PCR-current applications. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/MolecularPCRapplications.html. Accessed January 18th, 2021.
Archeology and evolution
- DNA that has survived in ancient tissue up to 45,000 years old can be amplified to provide large quantities for sequencing
- Analysis of DNA from ancient organisms is used to study ancient species, as well as evolution (Genome Res 1991;1:107)
DNA sequencing
- Determining the order of DNA bases
- Traditional Sanger method is not based on PCR but some newer sequencing methods use PCR to make copies of the DNA before the sequencing begins (Wikipedia: DNA Sequencing [Accessed 4 June 2018])
- Although PCR introduces replication errors, DNA sequencing of the total PCR product may give the correct sequence because
- Errors occur in only a small percentage of the bases
- Incorporation of incorrect bases is essentially random
- New DNA polymerases have lower frequencies of mutations due to proofreading capabilities (Strachan: Human Molecular Genetics, 4th Edition, 2010)
Forensic identification
- To identify individuals, forensic scientists scan 13 DNA regions or loci that vary from person to person and use the data to create a DNA profile of that individual ("DNA fingerprint")
- Information is stored in the CODIS database, funded by U.S. FBI (Wikipedia: Combined DNA Index System [Accessed 4 June 2018])
- There is an extremely small chance that another person has the same DNA profile for a particular set of 13 regions
- PCR is used to make millions of exact copies of DNA from a biological sample, which allows use of biological samples as small as a few skin cells
- Note: great care must be taken to prevent contamination with other biological materials during the identifying, collecting and preserving of a sample
Medical and pathogen diagnosis
- Hemoglobinopathies (Clin Lab Haematol 2004;26:159)
- Measuring residual disease posttreatment (Clin Lymphoma Myeloma 2009;9:S266)
- Prenatal diagnosis of aneuploidy (Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2007;45:S11)
- Diagnosis of specific infectious disorders, including aspergillosis / fungi (Rev Iberoam Micol 2007;24:89); BK virus (Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2006;1:374) or other viruses (Curr Issues Mol Biol 2007;9:87); Salmonella / bacteria (J Infect Dev Ctries 2008;2:421); schistosomiasis / parasites (Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2006;101:145)
Molecular genetics
- Study of the structure and function of genes at the molecular level
- Includes study of how genes are transferred from generation to generation (Wikipedia: Molecular Genetics [Accessed 4 June 2018])
Molecular pathology
- Identification of gene rearrangements associated with specific tumor types (Jpn J Clin Oncol 2007;37:79)
- Molecular classification of leukemia (Br J Cancer 2007;96:535)
Paternity testing
- Use of genetic fingerprinting to determine if a man is the biological father of an individual
- Current techniques use PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphisms
- Older techniques used ABO blood group typing, analysis of other proteins or HLA antigens
- In a DNA parentage test, the probability of parentage is 0% if the alleged parent is not biologically related to the child and typically > 99.9% if the alleged parent is biologically related to the child (Wikipedia: DNA Paternity Testing [Accessed 4 June 2018])
Tissue identification
- PCR is part of a process of tissue fingerprinting to identify specimen mixup, cross contamination, floaters or carryover artifacts (Adv Anat Pathol 2008;15:211, J Mol Diagn 2007;9:205, Am J Clin Pathol 1993;100:666)
Transplant engraftment analysis
- Transplant engraftment studies are used to evaluate the level of donor versus recipient cells in posttransplant specimens
- Unique DNA fingerprints from recipient and donor are used to determine the proportion of each contained within the total DNA extracted from the posttransplant specimen; these percentages correspond to relative amounts of donor and recipient cells in the specimen
- Engraftment studies are sequentially performed on transplant patients to monitor closely the levels of donor and recipient cells so that appropriate therapeutic intervention can proceed, if necessary
- Analysis often uses short tandem repeats (STRs) as part of the "fingerprint" (Bone Marrow Transplant 2002;29:243)
Tumorigenesis
- PCR helps understand the importance of particular molecules and pathways that may be involved in tumorigenesis (J Histochem Cytochem 2010;58:277, BMC Cancer 2009;9:315)
