Liao Peiyu, Huang Yanyi
Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Biodynamic Optical Imaging Center (BIOPIC), College of Engineering, School of Life Sciences, and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Micromachines (Basel). 2017 Jul 25;8(8):231. doi: 10.3390/mi8080231.
Digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is becoming ever more recognized amid the overwhelming revolution in DNA quantification, genomics, genetics, and diagnostics led by technologies such as next generation sequencing and studies at the single-cell level. The demand to quantify the amount of DNA and RNA has been driven to the molecular level and digital PCR, with its unprecedented quantification capability, is sure to shine in the coming era. Two decades ago, it emerged as a concept; yet one decade ago, integration with microfluidics invigorated this field. Today, many methods have come to public knowledge and applications surrounding digital PCR is mounting. However, to reach wider accessibility and better practicality, efforts are needed to tackle the remaining problems. This perspective looks back at several inspiring and influential digital PCR approaches in the past and tries to provide a futuristic picture of the trends of digital PCR technologies to come.
在由下一代测序等技术以及单细胞水平研究引领的DNA定量、基因组学、遗传学和诊断领域的巨大变革中，数字聚合酶链反应（PCR）正越来越受到认可。对DNA和RNA数量进行定量的需求已被推动到分子水平，而具有前所未有的定量能力的数字PCR必将在未来时代大放异彩。二十年前，它作为一个概念出现；然而十年前，与微流体技术的整合为该领域注入了活力。如今，许多方法已为公众所知，围绕数字PCR的应用也在不断增加。然而，为了实现更广泛的可及性和更好的实用性，仍需努力解决遗留问题。本文回顾了过去几种鼓舞人心且具有影响力的数字PCR方法，并试图描绘数字PCR技术未来发展趋势的前景。
