Oligonucleotide technology - A research platform for chemical biology

During the past three decades, considerable progress has been made in the f ield of oligonucleotide synthesis. Today, oligonucleotides and their deriva tives can be prepared by highly optimised, automated procedures. They are u sed as sophisticated tools in fundamental research, as diagnostic reagents and as pharmaceutical compounds. In this paper, some applications of oligon ucleotides are highlighted.