Which of the following conditions likely describes the living environment of Taq bacteria?
(A) Freshwater with acidic pH
(B) Hydrothermal vents reaching temperatures between 70–75°C
(C) Hot springs of 40°C
(D) Tide pools with high salinity

Taq polymerase, a DNA polymerase derived from thermophilic bacteria, is used in polymerase chain reactions (PCR) in the laboratory. During PCR, Taq catalyzes DNA polymerization, similar to how it would in bacteria. A normal PCR cycle is as follows:

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1. Melting/Denaturing 2. Primer Annealing 3. Elongation of DNA (repeat 20-30 cycles) 95°C 50°C 72°C