The selection of one target region or locus over another during the polymerase chain reaction. Differential amplification can also arise between two alleles within a single locus if one of the alleles has a mutation within a PCR primer binding site, causing this allele to be copied less efficiently because of the primer-template mismatch. (QA Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories)
The contents of this glossary is funded in part through a sub-award from RTI as the lead partner for the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence through a Cooperative Agreement from the National Institute of Justice (2011-DN-BX-K564 and 2016-MU-BK-K110), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies and any services or tools provided).