Synthetic Oligodeoxyribonucleotides and Human Health

Abstract

The history of synthetic DNA includes the discovery of its structure and the development of techniques for its chemical synthesis. DNA synthesis story dates back to the work of E. J. Corey when he used the term synthons. At that time, this was a new but an important concept, never conceived before in the area of nucleic acid research. A synthon is defined as a hypothetical chemical fragment that can be used as a potential starting reagent in the synthesis of a target molecule. Synthons are created by breaking a target molecule into fragments through a series of logical disconnection involving deep chemistry. Therefore, synthon preceded the synthesis of DNA. The first successful synthetic DNA synthesis was reported by Khorana and his team.Fortunately, the discovery of DNA structure reported earlier by Watson and Crick turned out to be so accurate that it stood all the rigours and test of time. This discovery affected both pure and applied sciences changing the face of Biochemical, Biomedical and Biological researches in a big way. Today multibillion dollars Biotechnology industry is revolving around the synthetic DNA. Here, we discuss historical perspective of its synthesis with brief background information, highlighting commercially available synthesizers’ and use of synthetic DNA in difference areas of biology, medicine and forensic sciences. We also propose a conceptual framework of cancer prognosis involving NSG DNA fingerprinting. Rampant use of synthetic DNA in conducting polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is all too well known to us, indeed a boon for human health care system. This is because PCR is helpful for DNA based disease diagnosis, identification and origin of samples in forensic cases, gene expression and regulation studies, characterization of microbiomes, genome analysis, species and gender identification and DNA fingerprinting. Conceptually, synthetic DNA may be used as chromosome specific marker if unique sequences are pre-recorded from such chromosomes. Synthetic DNA can be used to fish out transcribing sequences close to repeat element by employing minisatellite associated sequence amplification com(MASA) by a simple PCR. Using single or multiple synthetic oligonucleotides, gene expression can be monitored and quantitated. This approach is useful both for genomic DNA and cDNA. Finally species and gender specific markers based on synthetic DNA may be developed for any species. Such markers are useful both for species identification in forensic cases and for identification of newer mutations. Accordingly, mutational load in any species may be uncovered. This approach is particularly useful for genes involved in causing human diseases. Similarly, screening of genomic and cDNA libraries may be conducted using synthetic DNA circumventing the use of radiolabelled genome derived cloned probes. Frequent use of PCR has enhanced the requirement of synthetic DNA for mining a large number of normal alleles and diseased genes. Synthetic DNA may be used for ascertaining the food adulteration, cell culture contamination, strain identification and for monitoring the success of bone marrow transplantation. Without synthetic DNA, sequencing reaction cannot be done. This paper is envisaged to impel the thoughts of both students and researchers enabling them to articulate their research dreams in a better and more logical manner. This will not only result in some original scientific contributions but also augment the much desired human health care system.

Keywords: Biomarkers, DNA, DNA based diagnosis, DNA sequencing, Genome analysis, Species specific probes, Synthetic solid matrix, Synthons.

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