Corrections

A recent CMAJ article on the polymerase chain reaction¹ correctly stated that the method is used to detect RNA viruses, but presented an incorrect example. Herpes simplex virus was mentioned as an example of an RNA virus, but it is a DNA virus.

In addition, the article incorrectly stated that the thermostable DNA polymerase was originally derived from bacteria in deep-ocean thermal vents. In fact, the original polymerase came from thermal springs; a subsequent generation of polymerases was of thermal vent origin.