Q33 / 200 · MHT CET - Medical 2026 (25 April Shift 1) · Biology
Beginning with 20 fragments of DNA, after 10 cycles of PCR, how many copies of DNA will be produced?
- A$20 \times 10^2$
- B$20 \times 2^{20}$
- Correct answerC$20 \times 2^{10}$
- D$20 \times 10^{10+1}$
Solution
In a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), the number of DNA molecules doubles after each cycle.
The total number of DNA molecules after $n$ cycles is given by the formula $N = N_0 \times 2^n$, where $N_0$ is the initial number of DNA fragments and $n$ is the number of cycles.
Given the initial number of DNA fragments $N_0 = 20$ and the number of cycles $n = 10$.
Substituting these values into the formula, we get:
$N = 20 \times 2^{10}$
Answer: $20 \times 2^{10}$
The total number of DNA molecules after $n$ cycles is given by the formula $N = N_0 \times 2^n$, where $N_0$ is the initial number of DNA fragments and $n$ is the number of cycles.
Given the initial number of DNA fragments $N_0 = 20$ and the number of cycles $n = 10$.
Substituting these values into the formula, we get:
$N = 20 \times 2^{10}$
Answer: $20 \times 2^{10}$
Hence, the correct answer is option: 'C'.