The most common use of synthetic oligonucleotides is as relatively short probes and primers (typicallyup to 30-mer) in a variety of applications. This involves synthesizing a nucleotide sequence that is paired or 'reverse-complementary' to a larger, target DNA or RNA strand (target sequence).
As primers,oligos initiate enzymatic reactions by providing a starting point for DNA or RNA synthesis..
As probes, oligos bind specifically to complementary DNA or RNA sequences, enabling the detection or confirmation of target sequences in a sample..
Therapeutic Development
Therapeutic Development Oligonucleotides (oligos) play a crucial role in therapeutic development, serving as the foundation for advanced treatments such as antisense therapies, RNA interference (RNAi), and mRNA-based vaccines. These molecules enable precise targeting of genetic sequences, allowing for modulation of gene expression to treat genetic disorders, cancers, and infectious diseases.
Genetic Engineering
In genetic engineering, oligos are indispensable tools for designing and manipulating DNA sequences. They are used in gene editing technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 as guide RNAs, in site-directed mutagenesis for creating specific genetic modifications, and in synthetic biology for assembling and optimizing novel genetic constructs.
Molecular Diagnostics
Oligos are essential in molecular diagnostics, enabling highly sensitive and specific detection of genetic material. They serve as primers and probes in PCR, qPCR, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays, facilitating the identification of pathogens, genetic mutations, and biomarkers for various diseases, including cancer and infectious diseases.
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