Amplification

Amplification means the multiplication of sections of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). These can be molecules, individual genes or even larger parts of the genome. The amplification occurs as a natural replication of sequences of the DNA as the carrier of the genetic information. This makes it one of the most important categories in heredity (genetics).

What is amplification?

In the laboratory, amplification is artificially applied as a technical process in molecular biology. The starting sequence is the amplicon, and the result is the amplicon. As a natural process, amplification is a form of mutation, i.e. a permanent change in the genetic make-up. In this way, it can accelerate evolution by expanding and compressing certain sections of DNA in the genome.

Resistance to antibiotics or insecticides develop, for example, on shorter routes. It is also possible, with the selective duplication of genes, to increase their deterioration in case of need. This is done, for example, with egg cells so that they can meet their increased need for ribosomes.

In some natural amplifications, the replication is repeated on the genes. An onion skin structure became visible with an electron microscope during this process, for which the technical language has coined the term “onion skin replication”.

Function & task

The nucleotides are the basic building blocks of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA (ribonucleic acid). They consist of a phosphate, a sugar and a base part. These molecules are extraordinarily diverse in nature and fulfill important regulatory tasks in the cells, especially with regard to metabolism. Nucleotides link the sugar with the base and the phosphate in turn with the sugar by means of an ester bond. It is also possible to attach more than one phosphate to the sugar.

The nucleotides can be distinguished by the incorporated bases and the sugar. This is deoxyribose in DNA and ribose in RNA. Overall, the large molecules DNA and RNA are each made up of four different types of nucleotides, which can be arranged next to one another in any way. This happens by means of a coding reaction.

In order to be able to provide the necessary information for the encryption of the genetic message, at least three nucleotides have to connect with each other. In this way, they form a single strand of DNA. In order to create the double strand, the single strand is mirrored. Each arranged base of the individual strand is opposite to a complementary base of the mirrored strand. In the respective base arrangement there is in turn a regularity that depends on the chemical nature of the specific pair.

The two strands of DNA that belong together form what is known as the double helix. The opposite bases of the nucleotides are connected to one another by hydrogen bonds. Depending on the base pair, two or three of these hydrogen bonds are built. This process is known in cell biology as the base pairing mechanism.

In this context too, amplification enables the exact replication of existing structures in the human cell. If this can be artificially controlled, certain types of cancer can be treated in a more targeted manner in the future.

A technology for DNA replication in the test tube (in vitro) is the so-called polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It can be used to amplify any DNA segment in a short time and in a simple way.

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Illnesses & ailments

Under certain circumstances, so-called cancer genes (oncogenes) are brought about unchecked growth of tumors through amplification. Some oncogenes also respond to certain cytostatics (natural or artificial substances that inhibit cell growth) with amplification.

In cancer therapy, those special agents are used as cytostatics that block the production of building blocks of nucleic acids. The cancer cells, in turn, are able to react by amplifying gene parts that are slowed down by cytostatics. Often the oncocells develop homogeneous chromosome extensions.