Performing polymerase chain reaction

摘要

Disposable polypropylene tubes are used as reaction containers for performing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on samples of nucleic acids. The tubes have a lower conical portion and an upper cylindrical portion. The tubes are capped in use. The lower portion contacts a correspondingly shaped hole in a heating block and has a substantially thinner wall than that of the upper portion of the tube. Downward pressure on the capped tube ensures a tight fit of tube in the heating block and ensures rapid heat exchange between the block and sample in the tube.