https://pages.htgaa.org/2026a/fiorella-maldonado/homework/week-6/index.htmlAssignment: DNA Assembly 1. Phusion DNA polymerase is the core enzyme. It has proofreading (3’→5’ exonuclease) activity, which dramatically reduces mutation rates during amplification compared to standard Taq polymerase. GC buffer optimizes the reaction environment. It contains salts and proprietary additives that help denature difficult templates, particularly those with high GC content, by stabilizing the single-stranded state. dNTPs (deoxynucleotide triphosphates) are the building blocks. The mix provides all four (dATP, dTTP, dCTP, dGTP) at balanced concentrations so the polymerase can extend the new DNA strand. Mg²⁺ ions act as essential cofactors. The polymerase requires magnesium to catalyze the phosphodiester bond formation between nucleotides.Hugoen