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Miniature Continuous‐Flow Polymerase Chain Reaction: A Breakthrough?
Author(s) -
Zorbas Haralabos
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-3773(19990419)38:8<1055::aid-anie1055>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - continuous flow , polymerase chain reaction , flow (mathematics) , chain (unit) , volumetric flow rate , materials science , process (computing) , chemistry , computer science , mechanics , physics , biochemistry , astronomy , gene , operating system
A time–space conversion enables the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to be carried out in a continuous‐flow process: the mobile reaction mixture is pumped continuously through a glass microchip and passes many times through three constant temperature zones (see picture). The flow rate can be varied to obtain an amplification time of only 90 s. When combined with other continuous‐flow microdevices this micromachine may prove useful for routine medical applications and biochemical research.