Taq DNA Polymerase is a highly thermostable DNA polymerase from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus aquaticus. The enzyme catalyses 5'→3' synthesis of DNA, has no detectable 3'→5' exonuclease (proofreading) activity and possesses low 5'→3' exonuclease activity. In addition, Taq DNA polymerase exhibits deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity, which frequently results in the addition of extra adenines at the 3’-end of PCR products. Native Taq DNA polymerase is preferred for amplification of bacterial DNA sequences homologous to those found in E.coli.

• Thermostable with half life more than 40 minutes at 95 °C
• Generates PCR products with 3'-dA overhangs
• Supplied with two buffers, including 10X Taq buffer with (NH₄)₂SO₄, which allows PCR at a wide range of magnesium concentrations and decreases unspecific priming
• Incorporates modified nucleotides (e.g., biotin-, digoxigenin-, fluorescently-labelled nucleotides)