For many researchers, the process of acquiring custom oligonucleotides has never been more challenging. There are simply too many choices. For example, the increasing variety of specialty oligos, used in tasks ranging from diagnostics to sequencing, can make ordering a grueling and time-consuming task. And with a pool of more than 200 suppliers worldwide, choosing the right company for the job can be equally daunting. To help scientists obtain the best oligo for the task at hand, Seattle-based DNAengine Inc. recently introduced OligoEngine.com, a free online resource that visually displays a researcher's oligos for easier, more accurate ordering, and then pairs that order with the most capable supplier.

The company collaborates with a select group of vendors, known as the Synthesis Network, each with a specialty such as high-volume primers or oligos with modifications such as internal tags or labels. "We've carefully looked at the suppliers out there and chosen...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

Receive full access to digital editions of The Scientist, as well as TS Digest, feature stories, more than 35 years of archives, and much more!