What is real-time quantitative PCR?
Real-time quantitative PCR is an innovative and robust technique for quantitative analysis of gene expression, mutation detection, and SNP genotyping. Real-time quantitative PCR was developed to overcome the basic weakness of classical PCR technology: whereas PCR can indicate the presence of a particular nucleic acid in a sample after a completed PCR amplification, it cannot directly quantify the amount of amplicon. Real-time quantitative PCR systems quantify the amount of amplified product through the detection and quantitation of a fluorescent dye. This dye, upon excitation, emits a light or signal that increases in intensity in direct proportion to the amount of amplified PCR product and, thereby, quantifies the amount of target DNA. The assays are directly performed in a single, closed tube without any purification or separation step, avoiding risks of contamination and the need for post-PCR handling. Real-time quantitative PCR systems also enable mutation detection via melting-cur
