Oligo Selection Guide
Choosing a Synthesis Scale
10 nmol is a good starting scale for routine PCR, qPCR, sequencing, genotyping, and other applications that require relatively small amounts of primer.
25 nmol provides more material and is useful when the same oligo will be used across multiple experiments or when additional working stock is desired.
100 nmol is appropriate for applications requiring greater amounts of material, higher-purity purification options, probes, modified oligos, and more demanding molecular biology workflows.
1 µmol is intended for higher-volume research use, repeated experiments, specialized applications, and oligos requiring larger amounts of purified product.
Choosing a Purification Method
DSL / Standard purification is suitable for most routine molecular biology primers, including PCR, qPCR, sequencing, and many cloning applications. It provides an economical option when very high purity is not essential.
PAGE purification separates oligonucleotides primarily according to size and can remove many truncated synthesis products. It is useful when sequence purity is particularly important.
HPLC purification provides higher-purity oligonucleotides and is especially useful for probes, modified oligos, and applications in which impurities could interfere with experimental performance.
Purification Availability by Scale
For Genesis's current ordering options:
Scale Available Purification
10 nmol DSL / Standard
25 nmol DSL / Standard
100 nmol DSL / Standard, PAGE, HPLC
1 µmol DSL / Standard, PAGE, HPLC
Modified and Specialized Oligos
If your oligo includes a 5′ modification, 3′ modification, internal modification, multiple modifications, fluorescent label, or another specialized feature, select the appropriate modification category and describe the requested modification in the Modification Details field.
Modified oligos may require a particular synthesis scale or purification method. Genesis will review the request before final confirmation.
Not Sure What to Select?
A useful rule of thumb is:
Routine primer → 10–25 nmol + DSL / Standard
Higher-purity or modified oligo → 100 nmol–1 µmol + PAGE or HPLC
For unusual sequences, specialized modifications, or applications where purity is critical, Genesis Biotechnologies can review the specifications before the order is finalized.
Choose the synthesis scale and purification method based on how much oligonucleotide you need, how sensitive the downstream application is to impurities, and whether the oligo contains modifications.
Application / Need Recommended Scale Recommended Purification Guidance
Routine PCR primers 10 or 25 nmol DSL / Standard Appropriate for most routine amplification, colony PCR, genotyping, and screening applications.
qPCR primers 10 or 25 nmol DSL / Standard Usually sufficient for standard qPCR primer use. Higher purification may be considered for particularly demanding assays.
DNA sequencing 10 or 25 nmol DSL / Standard Suitable for routine Sanger primers sequencing and related primer-based applications.
Cloning primers 25 or 100 nmol DSL / Standard or HPLC Choose a larger scale when multiple reactions or extensive downstream work is anticipated.
Site-directed 25 or 100 nmol DSL / Standard or HPLC Higher purification may be useful for mutagenesis primers longer or more complex mutagenesis oligos.
Probes 100 nmol or 1 µmol HPLC Recommended when purity is especially important or when the oligo contains fluorescent or other functional modifications.
Modified oligos 100 nmol or 1 µmol HPLC or PAGE Recommended for oligos containing 5′, 3′, internal, or multiple modifications. Final purification depends on oligo design and modification type.
High-purity 100 nmol or 1 µmol PAGE or HPLC Use when truncated synthesis research applications products or other impurities could affect experimental performance.
Larger experimental 1 µmol PAGE or HPLC Appropriate when substantially more requirements material is required for repeated experiments or specialized research applications.