The Taq behind the PCR behind COVID-19 identification

Photo: National Park Service/Jim Peaco

Thanks to SARS-Cov2, the virus behind COVID-19, we’ve been hearing a lot about these three letters:

PCR

Short for polymerase chain reaction, this laboratory technique can amplify the tiniest sample of DNA or RNA, opening the door to relatively quick identification of an organism. For COVID-19, it’s been telling people if they’re positive (or…