Gene Synthesis [New Synthetic Methods (77)]

Oligonucleotide synthesis, until a few years ago the rather exotic preserve of a few experts, has become an integral part of the arsenal of molecular‐biological techniques. The last decade, in particular, has seen unbelievably rapid development in this area. DNA synthesis has been automated and can now produce genes greater than 1000 base pairs in length. Tailor‐made synthetic genes also permit the synthesis of altered or even novel proteins (de novo protein design) by gene‐technological methods. Together with modern methods of gene isolation, sequencing, and expression, gene synthesis has played a major part in the enormous advances achieved in gene technology.