NASBA (molecular biology)

NASBA stands for Nucleic Acid Sequence-Based Amplification, which is a technique used in molecular biology for amplifying RNA targets. It is similar to the more widely known polymerase chain reaction (PCR) but is specifically designed for RNA rather than DNA. The NASBA method utilizes a combination of reverse transcription and amplification steps that occur at a constant temperature, which makes it particularly suitable for detecting RNA viruses and for applications where isothermal conditions are preferred.