<p>The present invention provides nucleic acid based polymerase inhibitors and methods for reducing non-specific polymerase extension and amplification in nucleic acid amplification reactions. The polymerase inhibitors provide a double stranded nucleic acid portion that is recognized by a polymerase enzyme as a template for extension but is incapable of being extended by the polymerase enzyme. The polymerase binds to the polymerase inhibitor which sequesters the enzyme until the temperature achieves a level that denatures the double stranded portion of the inhibitor after which the polymerase is released and can then catalyze nucleic acid extension.</p>
