The nucleic acid technique in which RNA is converted to cDNA, which is then amplified, is known as:

The nucleic acid technique in which RNA is converted to cDNA, which is then amplified, is known as:

• A. RT-PCR
• B. PCR
• C. RFLP
• D. In situ hybridization

Answer: (A)

RT-PCR combines two ideas: first, turning RNA into complementary DNA so it can be read by DNA-based enzymes, and second, amplifying that cDNA through PCR cycles. Because RNA is not directly amplified by standard PCR, the reverse transcription step is essential. This lets you detect and quantify RNA species, such as gene expression or RNA viruses, by creating many copies of the cDNA. If you used PCR alone, you’d need a DNA template, not RNA. RFLP relies on cutting DNA with restriction enzymes to look at fragment patterns, with no conversion from RNA to DNA or amplification of RNA-derived material. In situ hybridization uses labeled probes to detect nucleic acids in tissue sections and does not amplify the target.

RT-PCR combines two ideas: first, turning RNA into complementary DNA so it can be read by DNA-based enzymes, and second, amplifying that cDNA through PCR cycles. Because RNA is not directly amplified by standard PCR, the reverse transcription step is essential. This lets you detect and quantify RNA species, such as gene expression or RNA viruses, by creating many copies of the cDNA.

If you used PCR alone, you’d need a DNA template, not RNA. RFLP relies on cutting DNA with restriction enzymes to look at fragment patterns, with no conversion from RNA to DNA or amplification of RNA-derived material. In situ hybridization uses labeled probes to detect nucleic acids in tissue sections and does not amplify the target.