Why is DNA polymerase important to the PCR reaction?

• A. It acts as a template for the synthesis of new DNA strands.
• B. It separates the DNA strands by breaking hydrogen bonds.
• C. It synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides to the primers.
• D. It provides the energy required for the reaction to occur.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of DNA polymerase in cellular DNA replication: DNA polymerase is an enzyme that synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides to a pre-existing chain, using a template strand to guide the sequence of the new strand.
2. Recognize the purpose of PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction): PCR is a technique used to amplify a specific segment of DNA, creating millions of copies of a particular DNA sequence.
3. Identify the steps of PCR: PCR involves repeated cycles of denaturation (separating the DNA strands), annealing (binding of primers to the template), and extension (synthesis of new DNA strands).
4. Focus on the extension step: During the extension phase of PCR, DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to the 3' end of each primer, synthesizing a new DNA strand complementary to the template strand.
5. Conclude the role of DNA polymerase in PCR: DNA polymerase is crucial for the PCR process because it is responsible for synthesizing the new DNA strands by adding nucleotides to the primers, thus enabling the amplification of the target DNA sequence.