Identification of Microorganisms Using Random Primed PCR

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be used to identify microorganisms in at least two basic ways. The first method depends on a knowledge of DNA sequence unique to the organism under study and provides a specific means of identifying that organism. This method is discussed elsewhere in this volume and can be used to identify a target organism even in small numbers in mixed cultures. The second method has an absolute requirement for a pure culture of the target organism but requires no knowledge whatsoever of the DNA sequence of that organism. This method depends on random priming of the PCR using an oligonucleotide primer (or pair of primers) of arbitrary sequence and is the subject of this chapter.