Primer

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-009455",
  "term": "Primer",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A short nucleic acid strand, typically an oligonucleotide of RNA or DNA, that serves as a starting point for DNA synthesis. The primer anneals to a complementary template strand, providing a free 3'-hydroxyl group that a DNA polymerase can extend by adding new nucleotides. In the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), pairs of specific DNA primers are used to define and amplify a target sequence, with typical lengths ranging from 18 to 25 bases.",
  "subject": "Analytical Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "polymerase"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 2018, 90, 1121. 'Terminology of bioanalytical methods (IUPAC Recommendations 2018)' on page 1150 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2016-1120)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/primer/"
}