The Synthesis of Oligo‐ and Polynucleotides

Problems and results of the synthesis of oligonucleotides are reviewed. The central role of the nucleic acids in biochemistry is a challenge to synthesize nucleic acids of known base sequence and chain length. Oligomers with various sequences of up to 12 members and homo‐oligomers with a maximum chain length of 30 nucleotides can be obtained by chemical synthesis. The enzymatic synthesis of ribonucleic acids can be directed in such a way that polynucleotides with definite sequences are produced.