What are the key components required for a PCR reaction?

The key components required for a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) reaction are the DNA template, primers, and nucleotides.

In a PCR reaction, the DNA template is the specific segment of DNA that you want to amplify. Primers are short sequences of nucleotides that provide a starting point for DNA synthesis; they anneal to the complementary sequences on the template DNA. Nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA, are added during the extension phase where the DNA polymerase synthesizes new strands of DNA by adding nucleotides to the growing chain.

The combination of these components allows PCR to replicate a specific region of DNA exponentially. This method is essential in various applications, including genetic research, clinical diagnostics, and forensic science.

While other options involve components relevant to different processes—for example, ribonucleotides and RNA polymerase pertain to transcription rather than PCR—the correct answer directly addresses the specific needs of the PCR procedure.