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Watch America 250: The Breakthroughs That Built American Science — Part 2
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The polymerase chain reaction amplifies a selected DNA target through repeated thermal cycles. Starting with a small sample, researchers can produce many copies for subsequent analysis.

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1:15:08context at least in sports. 1983 invention of PCR. >> Yes. The polymerase chain reaction. This is the bread and butter of every bio lab, every biochemistry lab. Carrie Mullis invented the polymerase chain reaction at Cedus Corporation in Emoryville, California. And he utilized a repeated thermal cycle with a very special DNA polymerase that he had found in like bacteria in the hot springs of Yellowstone. >> Um, and he used that to exponentially amplify specific DNA targets. So you can take a small sample of DNA and make many many many many copies of it exponentially. Um revolutionized

1:15:48molecular diagnostics because now I only need a little bit to actually sequence. Before I needed a lot of DNA in order to sequence it here. Now I can amplify and then sequence. Um earned him the 1993 Nobel Prize in chemistry. >> This is a reminder to get out in nature. You may just find the inspiration for a

From the episode
  1. EP 47

    America 250: The Breakthroughs That Built American Science — Part 2

    Part two of our America 250 special traces American science from Sputnik to the AI age, covering Apollo, ARPANET, CRISPR, LIGO, mRNA vaccines, JWST, transformers, and the future of science funding.

    America 250: The Breakthroughs That Built American Science — Part 2

History of ScienceAmerica 250