A short DNA oligonucleotide used for PCR-SSP amplification is known as what?

A short DNA oligonucleotide used for PCR-SSP amplification is known as a primer. In the context of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), primers are short sequences of nucleotides that provide a starting point for DNA synthesis. They bind to the specific complementary sequences on the target DNA template, which allows the DNA polymerase to extend from the primer and amplify the desired target region.

Primers are crucial for the specificity of the PCR process, as they define the boundaries of the region that will be amplified during the reaction. Their design is critical for the success of PCR-SSP (Polymerase Chain Reaction - Sequence-Specific Primers), as primers must be complementary to the sequences flanking the target region for effective amplification.

In contrast, probe refers to a labeled nucleic acid used for detection of complementary sequences but does not play a role in the amplification process. Amplicon is the term for the actual product of PCR amplification, which is generated from the target DNA using the primers. Polymerase, specifically DNA polymerase, is the enzyme that synthesizes the new DNA strands during the PCR process but is not an oligonucleotide itself.