Annealing Process

Definition

The annealing process in molecular biology refers to the recombination of complementary strands of DNA or RNA to form a double-stranded molecule after being separated (usually by heat).

Analogy

Think about two pieces of Velcro. When pulled apart, they're separate and single (like denatured DNA). But when you press them back together, they stick and become one piece again - that's like the annealing process!

Related terms

Hybridization: This term refers to the pairing of complementary DNA or RNA sequences. It's another name for the annealing process.

Primer: A short nucleic acid sequence that provides a starting point for DNA synthesis. During PCR, primers bind to target DNA during the annealing phase.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): A technique used to amplify specific segments of DNA. The annealing process is a crucial step in PCR.