Oligonucleotides

Definition

Oligonucleotides are short strands of nucleotides, typically made up of 20 or fewer bases, which are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. They are synthesized artificially to match specific sequences within a gene for purposes such as DNA synthesis, regulation, and analysis.

Related terms

Nucleotide:

The basic structural unit of nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA, consisting of a sugar, phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR):

A laboratory technique used to amplify segments of DNA across several orders of magnitude, generating thousands to millions of copies of a particular DNA sequence.

Gene Expression: The process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product, often protein, which can affect the phenotype of an organism