How Oligo Synthesizers Are Quietly Powering Big Breakthroughs in Molecular Biology

Have you ever asked yourself how researchers investigate genes so accurately or how they come up with devices to identify viruses such as COVID-19 in a test tube? A large part of that is achieved through something called an oligo synthesizer.

So, what are Oligo synthesizers? Well, they are devices that generate short DNA or RNA strands, oligonucleotides. These oligos are used as tailor-made tools within molecular biology laboratories. So, be it for DNA amplification within PCR, gene editing, or constructing complete synthetic sequences, they are essential.

Since there are a lot of improvements happening in technology, such synthesizers have become faster, and more precise, plus more affordable.

What Is An Oligo Synthesizer?

As explained above, oligo synthesizers are used to make synthetic DNA or RNA pieces in the laboratory. Such pieces, or oligonucleotides, usually consist of 10–100 nucleotides (well, this is the basic unit of DNA/RNA) and are essential for many tasks such as:

• PCR amplification
• Gene editing (e.g., CRISPR)
• DNA sequencing
• Molecular diagnostics
• Probe and primer design, etc.

The good thing is, now scientists don’t need to isolate these from their natural sources because this is too tiring and prone to errors. Instead, they can synthesize them rapidly, with precise specifications. This helps genetic research to be more efficient and reproducible.

How Are Oligos Synthesized?

The oligo synthesis process involves nucleotides being added one at a time in a predetermined sequence. This technique is known as solid-phase synthesis. Modern oligo synthesizers carry out this whole process automatically, without compromising speed and accuracy.

These devices can also have purification steps that eliminate incorrect sequences. So, the final product is correct and free from impurities.

The purification methods include:

• Desalted Purification
• PAGE (Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis)
• HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography)
• HPLC-CE (Capillary Electrophoresis)
• High Affinity Purification (HAP) (Bio Basic's patented process)

The Growing Role Of Oligo Synthesizers In Research:

1. Gene Editing and Synthetic Biology: With synthetic genomes and CRISPR technology, oligo synthesizers enable scientists to produce well-defined sequences for use as guides to gene editing tools or to build synthetic DNA from scratch.

2. Personalised Medicine and Disease Detection: Personalised oligos are increasingly used in the design of diagnostic reagents for diseases such as cancer, genetic disorders, and infectious diseases. These reagents can identify disease-causing mutations in a patient's DNA.

3. Pharmaceutical Development: Amazing fact that oligos are used to develop new drugs, particularly antisense therapies and RNA treatments. Synthesizers assist in the production of these therapeutic oligos in the precise sequence required.

4. Low-Cost, High-Volume Research: As demand for custom oligos expands, institutions look for solutions providing high quality at a low price. Automated synthesizers provide repeatable, large-volume manufacturing, reducing costs and placing molecular tools within reach.

Why Bio Basic Is A Trusted Name In Oligo Synthesis:

For over 15 years, Bio Basic has been at the forefront of oligo synthesis services, offering high-quality oligonucleotides tailored to various research needs. Our facilities are built for large-volume custom production and include automation for consistent output.

Here’s why we stand out:

With linkers and quenchers to fluorophores and probes, Bio Basic supplies virtually all the modifications required for leading-edge research.

Affordable pricing for oligo synthesizing. We begin our pricing at only $6.00/oligo for HPLC purification with no additional costs(however, prices may vary). These are high-purity or modified oligos. This is a significant change compared to others that charge more than $50 per oligo.

Pre-modified oligos already come with purification costs included so it eliminates "surprise" charges.

Unlike others, Bio Basic supplies guaranteed yields in packages, in a measure of OD units, for more precise research and easy problem solving in case something goes wrong.

Sequences can be ordered by emailing them or downloaded from an order form for faxing or mailing. The oligo synthesis team usually responds within 24 business hours.

So, why wait? Visit our website to discover more or get an instant estimate!