What is the primary function of the 'Reverse Transcriptase' enzyme in an RT-PCR reaction?
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Correct answer: To synthesize cDNA from an RNA template
Reverse transcriptase is an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase. It transcribes a single-stranded RNA template into a stable, complementary DNA (cDNA) strand, which then serves as the template for subsequent PCR amplification.
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More RT-PCR questions
- In the context of RT-PCR, what is the specific purpose of using 'Oligo(dT)' primers during the reverse transcription step?
- Which of the following describes 'One-step' RT-PCR?
- What is the clinical significance of a 'One-step' RT-PCR assay in the detection of RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2?
- When performing RT-PCR, why is it often necessary to treat the RNA sample with DNase I prior to reverse transcription?
- Which type of primer is most appropriate for reverse transcribing prokaryotic (bacterial) RNA or highly degraded RNA samples?
- In a Real-Time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) assay, the term 'Relative Quantification' refers to: