Which type of amplification technique does the Ligase Chain Reaction belong to?

The Ligase Chain Reaction (LCR) is classified under probe amplification techniques. In this method, specific DNA probes are used that are complementary to adjacent sections of the target sequence. The key feature of LCR is the use of DNA ligase to join the two probes that have hybridized to the target sequence. This ligation step effectively amplifies the signal of the target DNA without needing to replicate the entire target sequence itself, which is a hallmark of probe amplification methods.

This type of amplification is particularly valuable for detecting specific sequences, as it allows the incorporation of multiple rounds of ligation to increase sensitivity and specificity. Probe amplification methods like LCR are often advantageous when trying to identify low-abundance targets, as they can selectively enrich for sequences of interest based on the designed probes.