Photoelectrochemical array platform for genomic scale DNA synthesis

Abstract

Molecular and synthetic biologists have increasing demand for large, high-fidelity constructs of synthetic DNA. Recent developments in harvesting oligonucleotides from DNA microarrays has proven that these can be assembled into large constructs of DNA for costs significantly less than traditional methods. This thesis presents a complete platform for the photoelectrochemical cleavage of protecting groups during in situ DNA synthesis. Photoelectrochemically patterned microarrays of phosphoramidite dye were produced with spot sizes of 100 um. This technology holds the potential for lowest cost per base pair of DNA produced over alternative microarray technologies, and may prove to be useful in de novo synthesis of large DNA constructs.