Question

What's the typical route taken to obtain synthetic DNA/RNA samples in practice? Are they pretty much always custom ordered from a place that prints them using sold-phase synthesis, or can you cobble them together from random common samples? Theoretically I could see an arbitrary 120bp oligonucleotide being made of 2-3 strands from random parts of across a genome or two, where you could separate out those parts with restriction enzymes and then anneal the snippets, but A) I don't know how you'd find those snippets reliably or whether my assumption that they'd exist in a random sequenced genome, or B) whether it's even efficient to try to digest, isolate, assemble and purify oligos that way when compared to buying a printed synthetic oligo Depends.

Answer 1

Synthetic DNA/RNA is typically obtained through custom-ordered solid-phase synthesis, which is preferred due to its speed and efficiency. PCR technology is also widely used to amplify specific DNA sequences in vitro.

Step-by-step explanation:

The typical route to obtain synthetic DNA/RNA in scientific practice is through solid-phase synthesis, a process where companies provide custom-ordered oligonucleotides based on specified sequences. This method is generally preferred because it is fast, efficient, and reliable. Solid-phase synthesis allows for the creation of DNA strands with a desired sequence, which can then be used for a variety of applications, such as gene cloning, making DNA probes, or even in treatment of genetic disorders. Alternative approaches, such as cobbling together DNA from existing organisms using restriction enzymes and annealing fragmented strands, are not commonly practiced due to the complexity and inefficiency of the process compared to solid-phase synthesis. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is another cornerstone technique where known sequences are amplified in vitro, essentially 'DNA xeroxing'. PCR can generate probes or amplify specific genetic regions for further analysis or manipulation.