Why there is use of only a single primer in case RAPD amplification - (Sep/28/2006 )

Hi
I am curious to know that why there is use of only a single primer in case RAPD amplification.

and how it works during amplification.

thanx


chandra

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The chance to get a (reproducable) product with one primer is higher. If you have two randomly binding primers they have to be not too far away to get a product, or elongation stops randomly and the different fragments are amplified so that you get several not reproducable bands at the end.
So with one primer the chance is higher to get a "good" product and its size depends on the elongation time. But you have not so much amplification: No exponential amplification, because always only one template (worst case), so primers have to bind at several sites in the genome to get visible amounts of DNA, and you need enough template and cycles.

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