Resilience of DNA chains to molecular fracture after PCR heating cycles and implications on PCR reliability.

Soon after its introduction in 1987, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become a technique widely employed in diagnostic medical devices and forensic science with the intention of amplifying genetic information. PCR prescribes that each of its cycles must include a heating subprocess at 95 °C or more (denominated DNA denaturation and provided for allowing a claimed orderly separation of the two complementary nucleotides strands), which can produce significant damage to DNA, caused by high-speed collisions with surrounding molecules. Since such disruption should be prevented in order to reliably employ PCR, a study of the mechanics of such loss of structural integrity is herein presented, preceded by a review of the fundamental literature which has elucidated the effects of molecular agitation on DNA fragmentation.