A PCR Birth Process Subject to an Enzyme Death Process

Abstract

The PCR process is modelled as a birth process for DNA strands, subject to a death process for enzymes. The case of 1 DNA strand and 1 enzyme is considered first, and generalized to the n strand and b enzyme case. Finally an approximate process is considered which gives a good approximation for the expected number of DNA strands.

Key Words:

• DNA polymerase
• Polymerisation chain reaction (PCR)
• Birth process
• Death process
• Gompertz growth law