Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): Supplies essential Mg2+ cofactor to optimize DNA polymerase activity, primer annealing stringency, and amplicon yield.

qPCR and RT‑PCR: Fine-tunes Mg2+ concentration for signal fidelity, reverse transcription efficiency, and dynamic range in quantitative assays.

Sanger Sequencing (Cycle Sequencing): Provides Mg2+ required for DNA polymerase function and controlled incorporation of dideoxynucleotides.

Isothermal Amplification (e.g., LAMP, RPA): Delivers Mg2+ to drive strand-displacing polymerases and modulate reaction speed and specificity.

Restriction Digests and DNA Ligation: Supplies Mg2+ cofactor for many restriction endonucleases and T4 DNA ligase to enable efficient cutting and joining.

CRISPR/Cas Nuclease Reactions: Provides Mg2+ required for Cas endonuclease cleavage activity in in vitro genome editing workflows.

Enzyme Assays: Provides Mg2+ for ATP-dependent enzymes (kinases, polymerases, nucleases) to ensure accurate kinetic measurements.

Competent Cell Preparation and Transformation: Used in chemical competence buffers and SOC recovery to enhance transformation efficiency in Escherichia coli.

In Vitro Transcription/Translation: Adjusts Mg2+ levels to stabilize nucleic acids and ribosomes for robust RNA and protein synthesis.

Buffer and Media Formulation: Used as a 3M stock to titrate magnesium concentration in molecular biology buffers and microbial media.