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Display Title Thermocycler
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Tools Used in the Sampling Process
Specific tools are needed to analyze the samples taken during the sampling process. Select one of the tools below to learn more about it, including when and where it is used during the Sampling Process.
The Thermocycler
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A thermocycler is a specialized piece of laboratory equipment, used ubiquitously in biology, to control temperature and experimental cycling parameters. A thermocycler is used in brewing to carry out a very common biological technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR allows for amplification of a specific piece of DNA in a substance so that very, very small amounts of DNA can be detected. PCR relies on specific temperature and cycling parameters to let its DNA replicating enzyme work, which is the purpose of a thermocycler. In the context of brewing quality control, a thermocycler can be used to detect the presence of contamination by specific microorganisms by detecting their DNA in the brewing materials or equipment by PCR. In the context of a typical brewing sampling plan, PCR is used to test for contamination during the yeast preparation stage, in the fermenter, during conditioning, and in brite tanks.
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