After 30 cycles, calculate how much PCR product (in micrograms) could potentially be produced

Question

 1 microgram of human genomic DNA is amplified in a PCR reaction using primers designed to amplify a 330 base pair fragment. After 30 cycles, calculate how much PCR product (in micrograms) could potentially be produced. Useful information Length of the human genome = 3 x 109 base pairs Mean mass of 1 nucleoside phosphate = 330 Da Show your calculation

Answer 1

Kim,

 

PCR amplification is exponential, however, it is a biological reaction and depends on many factors such as:

 

If primers are 100% complementary to template DNA

 

If template of genomic DNA is adequately denatures and is available

 

If primers form primer-dimers

 

If primer sequence can bind to non-specific regions in genomic DNA, that happens and sometimes one does not get the right band but gets a ladder.

 

Finally, 1 microgram of genomic DNA is too much for a reaction and biologically, it is unlikely to give a clean band.

 

Perhaps this is more a question of mathematical calculation rather than genetics.