'''<span lang="Hi" dir="ltr">Random</span> amplification of polymorphic DNA''' ('''RAPD'''), pronounced "rapid",<ref>{{Cite web|title=Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD)|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/probe/docs/techrapd/|access-date=2020-11-10|website=www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov}}</ref> is a type of [[polymerase chain reaction]] (PCR), but the segments of DNA that are amplified are random.<ref>{{Cite web|title=rDNA: Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD)|url=http://www.rvc.ac.uk/review/dna_1/5_RAPD.cfm|access-date=2016-06-03|website=www.rvc.ac.uk}}</ref> The scientist performing RAPD creates several arbitrary, short primers (10- 12
nucleotides), then proceeds with the PCR using a large template of genomic DNA, hoping that fragments will amplify. By resolving the resulting patterns, a semi-unique profile can be gleaned from an RAPD reaction.
