Annealing, in genetics, means for DNA or RNA to pair by hydrogen bonds to a complementary sequence, forming a double-stranded polynucleotide. The term is often used to describe the binding of a DNA probe, or the binding of a primer to a DNA strand during a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The term is also often used to describe the reformation (renaturation) of complementary strands that were separated by heat (thermally denatured). It is commonly used to describe the reaction that takes place when two or more strands are fused by means of high radiation This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The structure of part of a DNA double helix Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions for the development and function of living organisms. ... Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a nucleic acid polymer consisting of nucleotide monomers. ... Snapshot from a simulation of liquid water. ... On the left: nucleotides that forms the DNA and their complementary. ... A nucleotide is a chemical compound that consists of a heterocyclic base, a sugar, and one or more phosphate groups. ... A hybridization probe is a short piece of DNA (on the order of 100-500 bases) that is denatured (by heating) into single strands and then radioactively labeled, usually with phosphorus (32P or 33P). ... A primer is a nucleic acid strand, or a related molecule that serves as a starting point for DNA replication. ... PCR redirects here. ... Irreversible egg protein denaturation and loss of solubility, caused by the high temperature (while cooking it) In biochemistry, denaturation is a structural change in biomolecules such as nucleic acids and proteins, such that they are no longer in their native state, and their shape which allows for optimal activity. ...