hot-start PCR

[Lou]

In article <33f46af4.712157 at news.unitel.co.kr>, microbio at amc.ulsan.ac.kr wrote:

> Hot-started PCR was performed with paraffin wax bead.
> It's amplification efficiency was lower than manual hot-start PCR
> (after denaturation step, open tube cap and add Taq.pol)
> Any thoughts about this results?
> I think this result was due to Taq. pol degeneration during
> degeneration step or uncomplete melting of wax-layer..
> but I can't sure..

I believe the wax is less efficient because the enzyme does not get mixed into the rest of the PCR mix.  "Manual" hot start PCR is cumbersome when working with a large number of tubes.  We use hot start PCR with Taq antibody.... works well.

Lou