Question

Which of the following is favoured for primer design?

(a) The melting temperature should be different for both the primers

(b) Primers should be long in length

(c) Primers should not be complementary to each other

(d) Matching should be of whole primer to the template

This question was posed to me in an interview for job.

My doubt is from Primers in division Polymerase Chain Reaction of Genetic Engineering

Answer 1

Right answer is (c) Primers should not be complementary to each other

For explanation: Primers should not be complementary to each other. It is so because if they are complementary, primer dimer formation takes place. If primer dimer is formed, proper elongation won’t be taking place.