PCR involves three steps: denaturation, annealing, and elongation (or extension). In denaturation, the two strands of the DNA molecule separate. In annealing, short DNA primers bind to complementary sequences on the single-stranded DNA template, and during elongation, DNA polymerase begins adding nucleotides onto the ends of the annealed primers. These steps are repeated in cycles to amplify DNA, making millions of copies.
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