Final answer:
Primers are needed in PCR for two main reasons: to provide a starting point for DNA replication and to target a specific DNA region for amplification.
Step-by-step explanation:
PCR, or polymerase chain reaction, requires primers for the initiation of replication. Primers are short DNA sequences that are complementary to the DNA template strands. They are needed in PCR for two main reasons:
- To provide a starting point for DNA replication. The primers bind to the DNA template strands at specific locations, allowing the DNA polymerase enzyme to initiate replication and synthesize new DNA strands.
- To target a specific DNA region for amplification. Primers are designed to anneal to the DNA sequence of interest, ensuring that only the desired region is amplified during PCR.