Abstract: A miniaturized multi-chamber thermocycler provides a thermocycler which is easy to handle, and permits the treatment of a great number of samples of small sample volumes at high temperature changing rates and at low heating powers. A sample receptacle body manufactured in micro-system technics provides a plurality of sample chambers which are embodied such that at least one of the sample chamber walls of the sample chamber which constitutes the sample chamber base is an efficient heat conductor and also of low mass. Said sample chambers are coupled to a coupling body, serving as heat sink, established via at least one poor heat conducting bridge which, with respect to its dimensioning and/or material selection is such that its specific heat conductance .lambda. is smaller 5 W/K.degree..multidot.m.

Abstract: A miniaturized thermocycler is provided for carrying out thermally controlled biochemical or biological melecular processes, in particular polymerase chain reactions. The aim of the invention is to provide a miniaturized thermocycler which enables such reactions to be carried out more effectively, avoids the problem of parasitic heat absorbers and can be manufactured inexpensively in series. This aim is achieved by virtue of the fact that the sample holder (1) is designed as a series of meanders winding in a plane, the sample holder (1) has a groove in a wall and closed over by a cover, the groove passing alternately through comparable heating zones (2) and cooling zones (3), located at intervals along the groove, as it meanders.