Real-Time PCR for Systems Biology: A Review on Real-Time PCR-Related Technologies & Their Applications in the Post-Genomic Era

Systems biology takes the integrative approach to study whole systems and systems interactions. The fields of genomics and proteomics research have revolutionized our understanding of systems biology. No single technology has made more of an impact on systems biology research than the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the 25 years since its invention, this transforming technology has been influential in diverse areas of science, but has been particularly useful in addressing the central questions relavant to transcriptional and epigenetic regulations of gene expression. This article will review various PCR-based technologies, describing their strengths and weaknesses in addressing these questions. We will highlight how some of these PCR-based assays are revolutionizing methodologies in the life science and biomedical industries.