Annealing
Annealing (Medicine)
Annealing (pronounced: /əˈniːlɪŋ/) is a term used in the field of genetics and molecular biology to describe the process of pairing complementary DNA or RNA sequences to form a double-stranded molecule. The term is derived from the metallurgical process of annealing, where metal is heated and then slowly cooled to increase its ductility.
Etymology
The term 'annealing' comes from the Old English 'onælan', meaning 'to set on fire'. It was first used in a biological context in the late 20th century, when techniques for manipulating DNA and RNA became widespread in molecular biology.
Process
Annealing in molecular biology involves heating a solution of DNA or RNA, causing the double-stranded molecules to separate into single strands. The solution is then slowly cooled, allowing complementary sequences to find each other and form hydrogen bonds. This results in the formation of a double-stranded molecule, with each strand acting as a template for the other. This process is crucial in many molecular biology techniques, such as PCR, DNA sequencing, and gene cloning.
Related Terms
- Denaturation: The process of breaking the hydrogen bonds between the two strands of a DNA molecule, resulting in the separation of the double helix into two single strands.
- Hybridization: The process of forming a double-stranded DNA or RNA molecule from two complementary single strands.
- Primer: A short piece of DNA or RNA that is complementary to a section of template strand and acts as a starting point for DNA synthesis.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Annealing
- Wikipedia's article - Annealing
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