• Overview
• Overview for teachers
• The mechanism of PCR
• Denaturation
• Annealing
• Extension
• Continuing the cycle
• PCR and agriculture
• PCR practical
• Sample assessment (PDF)
• Glossary
• Case study 1 - foreign fish in our market
• Learning outcomes for students
• PD for teachers
• Teacher information
• Experiment 1 - performing a BLAST search (PDF)
• Experiment 2 - creating a phylogenetic tree (PDF)
• Laboratory activity - Oxidation of Fish Oil (PDF)
• Case study 2 - oyster bloom
• Learning outcomes for students
• PD for teachers
• Teacher information
• The oyster industry
• Background of oysters
• Aquaculture in South Australia
• Experiment 1 - induction of spawning in oysters (PDF)
• Experiment 2 - observing the male and female oyster gamates (PDF)

PCR and agriculture

Some bacteria contain genes for an insecticide. This bacterium insecticide can be selected, amplified, and inserted into the DNA of many plants to resist caterpillars and other pests.

An example of biotechnology at work in agriculture is the rot-resistant tomato. The DNA in the tomato plant was altered by adding a gene that produces an antisense molecule. The antisense molecule inhibits the tomato from producing the enzyme responsible for rotting, enabling the tomato to ripen for a longer period of time on the vine.

You can find out more about this in the interactive by clicking the Launch PCR button.