What is PCR?

Why did an adolescent boy start growing breasts? And how did PCR help scientists solve the mystery? This video explains what PCR is and how it works - all in the context of how a team of scientists diagnosed an adolescent boy with an XX + SRY genotype.


The research story from this video is based on this paper:
M. S. Kim, P. H. Hwang, D.-Y. Lee, A 46,XX Male Adolescent Presenting with a Chief Complaint of Gynecomastia. Pediatrics & Neonatology 56, 357–359 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedneo.2015...


In addition to using PCR, the scientists used Gel Electrophoresis to determine the patient's genotype - here is a video about Gel Electrophoresis:


What is Gel Electrophoresis?    • What is Gel Electrophoresis?  


Cartoon Illustrations by Michelle Lotker
Image of Kary Mullis by Dona Mapston – CC BY-SA 3.0



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