What is AP-PCR or RAPD PCR?
Arbitrarily Primed PCR (AP-PCR) or Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) are methods of creating genomic fingerprints from species of which little is known about target sequence to be amplified. Strain-specific arrays of DNA fragments (fingerprints) are generated by PCR amplification using arbitrary oligonucleotides to prime DNA synthesis from genomic sites which they fortuitously match or almost match. Generally, two cycles of PCR are performed under conditions of low stringency with a single random orimer, followed by PCR at high stringency with specific primers. DNA amplified is this manner can be used to determine the relatedness of species or for analysis of Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLP). For more information see Welsh.McClelland1990 and Williams1990.
