Synthetic Nucleotide Oligomers for Security Marking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current synthetic DNA compositions used in security marking products require specialized Biotage equipment for analysis, limiting commercial opportunities and are not optimized for cost-effective manufacturing and analysis, with overly long DNA strands being costly to produce and analyze.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising identical synthetic nucleotide oligomers with shorter identifier sequences (3 to 7 bases) that can be easily related to the owner via a database, allowing use of standard Sanger equipment for analysis and reducing manufacturing and analysis costs, while providing a sufficient range of unique variations for identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If synthetic DNA compositions with longer identifier sequences are used, then uniqueness and reliability of identification is improved, but manufacturing cost and analysis cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the identifier sequence into two separate synthetic nucleotide oligomers instead of using one long sequence. Each oligomer contains a portion of the identifier (3-7 bases), and together they provide the full identification capability. This segmentation allows shorter, cheaper-to-manufacture oligomers to achieve the same identification reliability as a single long sequence.
2Reliability
If synthetic DNA compositions with longer identifier sequences are used, then uniqueness and reliability of identification is improved, but analysis cost and equipment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the identifier into two shorter oligomers, the patent enables analysis using standard Sanger sequencing equipment rather than requiring specialized long-read sequencing equipment. The shorter oligomers (3-7 bases each) are well within the capabilities of conventional sequencing technologies, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining identification reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of oligomer length from long (single sequence) to short (two sequences of 3-7 bases each). This parameter change makes the composition compatible with standard Sanger sequencing equipment, which has optimal performance for shorter sequences, thereby reducing analysis costs and equipment requirements while maintaining sufficient uniqueness through the combination of two identifiers.
3Ease of manufacture
If shorter identifier sequences are used, then manufacturing cost and analysis cost are reduced, but the range of unique variations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate identifier sequences (from two different oligomers) to create a composite identification system. Each individual oligomer has a limited range of unique variations due to its short length (3-7 bases), but when combined, the total number of unique variations is the product of the individual ranges, providing sufficient adaptability and versatility for security marking applications while keeping each oligomer short and cost-effective to manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
A composition comprising: a plurality of identical first synthetic nucleotide oligomers; and a plurality of identical second synthetic nucleotide oligomers which are different to the first synthetic nucleotide oligomers, wherein each of the first synthetic nucleotide oligomers comprises a first primer binding sequence of bases, a first identifier sequence of three to seven bases in length, and a second primer binding sequence of bases, the first identifier sequence being disposed between the first and second primer binding sequences, wherein each of the second synthetic nucleotide oligomers comprises a third primer binding sequence of bases, a second identifier sequence of three to seven bases in length, and a fourth primer binding sequence of bases, the second identifier sequence being disposed between the third and fourth primer binding sequences, and wherein the first identifier sequence is different to the second identifier sequence.