Oligos, short for oligonucleotides, are short sequences of nucleotides, typically composed of 10 to 100 nucleotide units. These synthetic molecules are fundamental building blocks in molecular biology and biotechnology, serving a variety of purposes in research, diagnostics, and therapeutic applications. Oligos can be designed to match specific DNA or RNA sequences and are widely used in techniques such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction), DNA sequencing, gene cloning, and gene editing.
In biotech research, oligos are custom-designed to target specific genes, regions of interest, or regulatory elements within nucleic acid molecules. They can function as primers to initiate DNA amplification, probes to detect complementary sequences, or templates for gene synthesis. Oligos are synthesized chemically in the laboratory and can be modified with various functional groups or modifications to enhance their stability, specificity, or other properties.
Oligos are versatile tools in biotech research, allowing scientists to manipulate, analyze, and engineer nucleic acids with precision and control. Their customizable nature and broad range of applications make oligos indispensable in numerous fields, including genetics, genomics, molecular biology, and biotechnology.
Also, see lyophilized oligos.