Assess understanding of core PCR principles (denaturation, annealing, extension), roles of polymerases and reaction components, primer design and specificity, thermocycling parameters, and common inhibitors; evaluate how variables such as Mg2+ concentration, template quality, primer–template mismatches, annealing temperature, cycle number, and polymerase choice affect amplification efficiency and specificity, and interpret basic troubleshooting strategies for laboratory and diagnostic contexts.