The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is used to replicate segments of DNA. It is used to make DNA samples big enough for testing, starting from very small samples collected, for instance, from a crime scene. PCR can double the number of a particular DNA segment every two minutes. Write an equation for the number of segments as a function of the number of minutes, t, if there is initially just one segment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The equation for the number of segments as a function of time, t, can be expressed as N(t) = 2^(t/2), where N(t) is the number of segments after t minutes. If the initial number of segments is 1, then N(t) = 2^(t/2). Therefore, option B is the correct choice.

The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Is Used to Replicate Segments