This allows us to build every possible anti-sense oligonucleotide and results in a complete survey of their hybridisation characteristics. This gives unique accuracy and power to pick the best sequences for anti-sense reagents for gene knock down experiments or therapeutics. OGT also uses array makers derived from ink jet printer technology developed by Rosetta Inpharmatics and Agilent Technologies a subsidiary of Hewlett-Packard Company. This technology is incredibly quick and versatile. The high yield solid phase chemistry means that oligonucleotides up to 60 bases can be synthesised.
Competitive methods are much more restricted.
Custom arrays of oligonucleotide sequences can be produced in hours, competitive methods require many weeks. The method also allows production of oligo probes which are built 5' to 3' using reverse phosphoramidite chemistry. Competitive methods do not offer this facility. This results in custom specified, random access high density arrays with probe sets which can be rapidly empirically optimised for any purpose in any research. On OGT arrays, any gene sequences or combinations of genes can be surveyed.