MicroBiology

Short segments of the DNA or the RNA with around twenty bases are known as oligonucleotide (also known as oligo).Now a days they are synthesize with the help of polymerizing nucleotide precursors. With the help of the synthesizers, the synthesis takes place up to 140 to 200 bases.

"Mer" is the word which is used to denote the length of the oligonucleotide, like if we have 100 bases then the length of the oligonucleotide is called 100-Mer. oligonucleotide is used as probes for the detection of the DNA or the RNA as they posses the capability of readily binding to the complementary nucleotide.

oligonucleotide are also used in the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) which is used for the amplification of small pieces of the DNA.