System for automated performance of the polymerase chain reaction

A thermal cycling system for performing a polymerase chain reaction amplification protocol comprising multiple cycles of the steps of thermal denaturation of double-stranded DNA, primer hybridization to single-stranded DNA, and template-dependent primer extension by a DNA polymerase, comprising:

• at least one reaction mixture comprising at least one single- or double-stranded nucleic acid sequence to be amplified, four different deoxyribonucleotides, and a pair of oligodeoxyribonucleotide primers for each said at least one nucleic acid sequence to be amplified,
• for each said at least one reaction mixture, a heat-conducting reaction chamber,
• in thermal contact with each said at least one chamber, a variable temperature heating and cooling system, the temperature of said heating and cooling system being computer controllable, and
• a user-initiable computer controllingly coupled to said heating and cooling system, said computer being programmed to vary the temperature of said heating and cooling system and thereby to vary the temperature of said at least one chamber in accordance with said polymerase chain reaction protocol upon initiation by a user.