Real-time Quantitative PCR as a Bioanalytical Tool in the Pharmaceutical Industry
qPCR
Jamie Murphy, Colorectal Fellow Stephen A. Bustin, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Science Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry Queen Mary, University of London
Introduction
The real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) enables simultaneous amplification and detection of specific DNA sequences and offers a unique combination of conceptual simplicity, cost efficiency and accuracy. Its speed, convenience, wide dynamic range and promise of reduced contamination risk have made it and its offshoot, the reverse transcription qPCR (RTqPCR), to-days methods of choice for any application that aims to
detect and quantify DNA, assess RNA abundance or distinguish small sequence changes[1] (Figure 1). Consequently, qPCR technology is relevant for every facet of biological investigation[2] and has become a standard exploratory tool in pharmaceutical microbiology, drug discovery and development and clinical trials[3].
This article was published in the February/March 2010 issue of International Drug Discovery, Volume 5, Issue 1, on pgs. 12-20.
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