Multiple choice

During the polymerase chain reaction, heat is used to

  1. break covalent bonds

  2. break hydrogen bonds

  3. accelerate chemical processes

  4. anneal DNA primers
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In the denaturation step of PCR, high temperatures are used to break the relatively weak hydrogen bonds holding the two complementary DNA strands together, separating them without damaging the stronger covalent bonds of the backbone.

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