Glossary

Dangling ends -- Unpaired base(s) on the 5' and/or 3' side and adjacent to a helix

ΔG -- The changes in Gibbs free energy upon melting of an oligonucleotide 

ΔH -- The changes in enthalpy upon melting of an oligonucleotide 

ΔS -- The changes in entropy upon melting of an oligonucleotide 

EDTA -- Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, C₁₀H₁₄N₂O₈

KCl -- Potassium Chloride

Length -- The length of the shortest strand in the oligonucleotide

MgCl₂ -- Magnesium Chloride

NaCl -- Sodium Chloride

Na₂EDTA -- Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt, C₁₀H₁₄N₂O₈Na₂

pH -- pH = -log [H₃O⁺]

PIPES -- Piperazine-N,N'-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid); 1,4-Piperazinediethanesulfonic acid; C₈H₁₈N₂O₆S₂

Sodium cacodylate -- C₂H₆AsNaO₂

Sodium phosphate -- Na₂HPO₄

T_m -- The melting temperature of an oligonucleotide at which the oligonucleotide is annealed to 50% of its exact complement.

TRIS -- Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane; 2-Amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol; C₄H₁₁NO₃