Trouble shooting

Question 1

Primer dimers

Answer 1

when primers bind with themselves instead of the template strand
occurs if too much primer is added

Question 2

Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR)

Answer 2

1st step to build up RNA into DNA - then normal PCR from there

Question 3

Quantitative PCR (Q-PCR)

Answer 3

method to know what’s expressed, using probe strands and quenchers to mark w/ fluorescence which section of the strand is being synthesised
shows how far along the strand the transcription is at depending on the relative amounts of fluorescence.
tracks the progress