Why is the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) So Useful for DNA

Question

Why is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) so useful for DNA fingerprinting?
A) It can produce millions of copies from tiny amounts of DNA.
B) It can be used to compare DNA from different individuals.
C) It can identify the complete sequence of a gene.
D) It can allow scientists to visualize the DNA of specific individuals.

Accepted Answer

PCR is useful for DNA fingerprinting because it can amplify small amounts of DNA into millions of copies, making it possible to obtain sufficient DNA for analysis from even tiny samples like a single hair or drop of blood. This is critical for DNA fingerprinting, where the amount of DNA available for analysis is often limited.