During a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) process, the DNA polymerase typically performs its copying function at a temperature of around 72°C (162°F). This temperature is optimal for the activity of Taq polymerase, the most commonly used enzyme in PCR.
The PCR process consists of three main steps: denaturation, annealing, and extension. First, during the denaturation step, the double-stranded DNA is heated to about 94-98°C to separate the strands. Next, in the annealing step, the temperature is lowered to about 50-65°C to allow primers to bind to the single-stranded template DNA. Finally, the extension step takes place at 72°C, where the polymerase synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides to the primer. This cycle is repeated multiple times to amplify the DNA.