What is the Difference Between Oligonucleotide and Polynucleotide?

Oligonucleotides and polynucleotides are both types of nucleotide chains, but they differ in length and composition. Here are the main differences between them:

1. Length: Oligonucleotides are short nucleotide chains, generally composed of fewer than 30 subunits, while polynucleotides are comparatively larger, with 13 or more monomer units.
2. Composition: Oligonucleotides are small and similar molecules of RNA or DNA, and they are naturally found as microRNA (22 nucleotides). Polynucleotides, on the other hand, are biopolymers composed of 13 or more nucleotide monomers.
3. Function: Oligonucleotides are used in a variety of biological techniques, such as probing, PCR, molecular cloning, and DNA sequencing, as well as in antisense therapy. Polynucleotides are mainly used in PCR and DNA sequencing.
4. Artificial Synthesis: Polynucleotides can be made artificially from oligonucleotides or other small nucleotide chains, using a polymerase enzyme to extend the chain by adding nucleotides according to a pattern specified by the scientist.

In summary, oligonucleotides are shorter nucleotide chains with generally fewer than 30 subunits, while polynucleotides are larger chains with 13 or more monomer units. Both types of nucleotides have different functions and applications in molecular biology and biochemistry.

Comparative Table: Oligonucleotide vs Polynucleotide

Here is a table summarizing the differences between oligonucleotides and polynucleotides:

Both oligonucleotides and polynucleotides are composed of nucleotide monomers, which are the basic structural units of DNA and RNA. They are involved in various genetic techniques, including FISH and PCR.