What is an amplicon? See examples of the different applications.
An amplicon is a piece of DNA or RNA that is the source and/or product of natural or artificial amplification or replication events. It can be formed using various methods including polymerase chain reactions (PCR), ligase chain reactions (LCR), or natural gene duplication. In this context, “amplification“ refers to the production of one or more copies of a genetic fragment or target sequence, specifically the amplicon. As the product of an amplification reaction, “Amplicon“ is used interchangeably with common laboratory terms, such as PCR product.
Artificial amplification is used in research, forensics, and medicine for purposes that include detection and quantification of infectious agents, identification of human remains, and extracting genotypes from human hair.
Natural gene duplication is implicated in several forms of human cancer including primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Amplicons in this context can refer both to sections of chromosomal DNA that have been excised, amplified, and reinserted elsewhere in the genome, and to extrachromasomal DNA known as double minutes, each of which can be composed of one or more genes. Amplification of the genes encoded by these amplicons generally increases transcription of those genes and ultimately the volume of associated proteins.
Amplicons in general are direct repeat (head-to-tail) or inverted repeat (head-to-head or tail-to-tail) genetic sequences, and can be either linear or circular in structure. Circular amplicons consist of imperfect inverted duplications annealed into a circle and are thought to arise from precursor linear amplicons.
During artificial amplification, amplicon length is dictated by the experimental goals.
Technology
Analysis of amplicons has been made possible by the development of amplification methods such as PCR, and increasingly by cheaper and more high-throughput technologies for DNA sequencing or next-generation sequencing, such as Ion semiconductor sequencing, popularly referred to as the brand of the developer, Ion Torrent.
DNA sequencing technologies such as next-generation sequencing have made it possible to study amplicons in genome biology and genetics, including cancer genetics research, phylogenetic research, and human genetics.
Irrespective of the approach used to amplify the amplicons, some technique must be used to quantitate the amplified product. Generally, these techniques incorporate a capture step and a detection step, although how these steps are incorporated depends on the individual assay.
Examples include the Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor Assay (RT-PCR), which has the capacity to recognize HIV in plasma, the HIV-1 QT (NASBA), which is used to measure plasma viral load by amplifying a segment of the HIV RNA, and Transcription Mediated Amplification, which employs a hybridization protection assay to distinguish Chlamydia trachomatis infections. Various detection and capture steps are involved in each approach to assess the amplification product, or amplicon.
Applications
PCR can be used to determine sex from a human DNA sample. The loci of Alu element insertion is selected, amplified and evaluated in terms of size of the fragment. The sex assay utilizes AluSTXa for the X chromosome, AluSTYa for the Y chromosome, or both AluSTXa and AluSTYa, to reduce the possibility of error to a negligible quantity. The inserted chromosome yields a large fragment when the homologous region is amplified. The males are distinguished as having two DNA amplicons present, while females have only a single amplicon. The kit adapted for carrying out the method includes a pair of primers to amplify the locus and optionally polymerase chain reaction reagents.
LCR can be used to diagnose tuberculosis. The sequence containing protein antigen B is targeted by four oligonucleotide primers — two for the sense strand, and two for the antisense strand. The primers bind adjacent to one another, forming a segment of double stranded DNA that once separated, can serve as a target for future rounds of replication. In this instance, the product can be detected via the microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA).
#amplificationReaction #CircularAmplicons #GeneticExamQuestionsSolutions #igaseChainReactions #Iherb #RNA #Genetics #DNA #PCR #Cancer #Forensics #genes #amplicon #gene #geneExpression #ligase #targetSequence #genotypes #geneticFragment #genotype #chromosome #polymeraseChainReactions #GeneticsLecture #Genetics101 #Illumina #NGS #nextgenerationSequencing #AmpliSeq #ampliconSequencing #targetedResequencing #libraryPrep #sequencing #IlluminaNewProducts #NikolaysGeneticsLessons
0 views
221
54
5 days ago 00:04:03 0
MY MOST DIFFICULT MAP - HORROR MUSIC: Nanoo - Blood And Candy - BEAT SABER - EXPERT
5 days ago 00:12:12 2
He said WHAT? WH panics as Trump ’nukes own base’ amid MAGA ’rebellion’ over Epstein bomb
5 days ago 00:20:43 2
Visionaries are People Who Can See In The Dark | Justine Musk | TEDxUIUC
5 days ago 00:12:30 2
“I’m a Jeffrey Epstein Survivor. The Documents Are an Opportunity“
6 days ago 00:10:24 0
Jay Z FINALLY Reveals His Secret To Success [EYE-OPENING]
6 days ago 00:02:30 1
Pokemon GO Spoofing iOS & Android - UPDATED Spoofing Pokemon GO 2025 with Joystick, Teleport
6 days ago 00:08:30 1
1 Minute of V Shocks the Internet 💔 | Taehyung Solo Comeback!
6 days ago 00:00:35 1
The CIA’s Spy Cat That Got Run Over Instantly
6 days ago 00:18:07 2
Elon Musk’s Kids FINALLY Reveals What They Think About Their Dad
6 days ago 00:10:05 1
The American Dream⁉️ Real Stories of Homeless people in Virginia‼️🤯😭🥵
6 days ago 00:15:01 1
THE SHAME OF AMERICA⁉️ You Won’t Believe What’s Happening in Philadelphia Streets‼️💀🤮
6 days ago 00:08:51 2
What’s Happening on Figueroa Street⁉️ They Don’t Want You to See‼️💔🥵🤯
6 days ago 00:07:06 2
How Many Steaks Can One AI Video vs. AI Image Cook? | WSJ
1 week ago 00:10:10 2
HOT Tiktok girls! last compilation before app is banned?!!!
1 week ago 00:06:18 2
How did Elon Musk really get so rich—and is his empire starting to crack?
1 week ago 00:45:51 2
Donald Trump vs Elon Musk: What does their fallout mean for the world? | 60 Minutes Australia
1 week ago 00:23:54 2
America Shocked 🚨: Elon Musk Annouces a new Political Party | Whats next? | Political Case study
1 week ago 00:03:55 2
’They must release it’: Elon Musk will not ’hold back’ on Epstein file push
1 week ago 00:03:15 2
AIdeology
1 week ago 00:02:02 2
Backyard Platform 🎉 Redneck AI Party Parody
1 week ago 00:03:17 1
Dialectical Fire - The Reds - Dream Concert part one (Rus Sub)
1 week ago 00:12:44 4
Astartes full movie (5 mini series in one) / Астартес полный фильм (5 мини серий в одном)
1 week ago 00:03:00 0
What Doctors Don’t Tell You About Losing Belly Fat After 40 #youtube #healthylifestyle #health
1 week ago 00:06:13 1
Сенатор Кейти Бритт опрашивает свидетелей о масштабах сети наркокартелей в США