qPCR
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Biology
| Stands for | Quantitative polymerase chain reaction |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
qPCR stands for Quantitative polymerase chain reaction, a biology abbreviation.
PCR that measures the amount of DNA as it is amplified, using fluorescent dyes or probes read after every cycle. The cycle at which fluorescence crosses a threshold, the Ct or Cq value, reveals how much target was present at the start: fewer cycles means more starting material.
Example: qPCR showed a 4.2-fold increase in gene expression relative to the housekeeping gene.
Usage notes
Also called real-time PCR, since amplification is monitored as it happens. Common chemistries include SYBR Green, a dye that binds any double-stranded DNA, and TaqMan probes, which add specificity. Researchers follow the MIQE guidelines when publishing qPCR data so results can be reproduced.
Related abbreviations
More biology abbreviations
- NPP – Net primary production
- OD – Optical density
- PBS – Phosphate-buffered saline
- PCR – Polymerase chain reaction
- PDB – Protein Data Bank
- PFU – Plaque-forming unit
- RNA – Ribonucleic acid
- ROS – Reactive oxygen species
- rRNA – Ribosomal RNA
- RT-PCR – Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction
- RuBisCO – Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase
- SDS-PAGE – Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis