What is PCR/qPCR?

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a technique used to amplify a single or a few copies of a segment of DNA across several orders of magnitude, generating thousands to millions of copies of a particular DNA sequence. qPCR (quantitative PCR) or real-time PCR is used to quantify the amount of a specific DNA or RNA sequence in a sample. It monitors the amplification of a targeted DNA molecule during the PCR, i.e. in real time, and not at its end, as in conventional PCR.