Which amplification procedure is characterized by utilizing primers that bind to a sequence of RNA?

The amplification procedure characterized by utilizing primers that bind to a sequence of RNA is known as the Transcription-Mediated Amplification System (TAS). This method involves the reverse transcription of RNA into complementary DNA (cDNA), followed by amplification using RNA polymerase. The process begins with specific primers that hybridize to the target RNA, leading to the transcription of the cDNA. This transcription step results in the production of numerous RNA copies from the original RNA target, making it a highly sensitive method for RNA amplification.

In contrast, other methods listed do not specifically utilize primers that bind RNA in this manner. Q beta replicase focuses on the amplification of RNA templates using an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, but it doesn't involve a reverse transcription step like TAS. Real-time PCR is primarily designed for DNA amplification, where the initial template is DNA rather than RNA, typically following reverse transcription if RNA is the starting material. Strand Displacement Amplification amplifies DNA with a unique mechanism that does not directly involve RNA templates or utilize RNA primers. Understanding these distinctions highlights the specific role of TAS in RNA amplification processes.