What is claimed is:
1. A replaceable reagent contact element for a bio-polymer synthesis apparatus, comprising:
a body; and
seed molecules attached to said body.
2. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 1, wherein said seed molecule comprises a nucleotide or nucleoside.
3. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 2, further comprising axial and radial locating elements.
4. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 3, wherein said body defines a cylindrical space.
5. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 4, wherein said body defines a groove adapted to frictionally engage a circumferential protrusion.
6. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 4, wherein said body comprises a flange.
7. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 4, wherein said body defines at least one slot.
8. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 4, further comprising a porous filter.
9. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 8, wherein said porous filter is inserted into the cylindrical space so as to define a cavity in the distal portion of the cylindrical space, said seed molecules being located within the cavity, and a porous membrane attached to the body so as to retain the seed molecules within the cavity.
10. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 4, further comprising at least one porous membrane attached to said body.
11. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 10, wherein said porous membrane defines a space and said seed molecules are located within the space.
12. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 10, wherein said seed molecules are attached to said membrane.
13. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 10, wherein two porous membranes are attached to said body so as to define a space and said seed molecules are located within the space.
14. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 1, wherein said seed molecule comprises an amino acid.
15. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 14, further comprising axial and radial locating elements.
16. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 15, wherein said body defines a cylindrical space.
17. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 16, wherein said body defines a groove adapted to frictionally engage a circumferential protrusion.
18. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 16, wherein said body comprises a flange.
19. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 16, wherein said body defines at least one slot.
20. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 16, further comprising a porous filter.
21. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 20, wherein said porous filter is inserted into the cylindrical space so as to define a cavity in the distal portion of the cylindrical space, said seed molecules being located within the cavity, and a porous membrane attached to the body so as to retain the seed molecules within the cavity.
22. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 16, further comprising at least one porous membrane attached to said body.
23. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 22, wherein said porous membrane defines a space and said seed molecules are located within the space.
24. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 22, wherein said seed molecules are attached to said membrane.
25. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 22, wherein two porous membranes are attached to said body so as to define a space and said seed molecules are located within the space.
26. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 1, wherein said seed molecule comprises a reactive functionality.
27. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 26, further comprising axial and radial locating elements.
28. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 27, wherein said body defines a cylindrical space.
29. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 28, wherein said body defines a groove adapted to frictionally engage a circumferential protrusion.
30. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 28, wherein said body comprises a flange.
31. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 28, wherein said body defines at least one slot.
32. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 28, further comprising a porous filter.
33. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 32, wherein said porous filter is inserted into the cylindrical space so as to define a cavity in the distal portion of the cylindrical space, said seed molecules being located within the cavity, and a porous membrane attached to the body so as to retain the seed molecules within the cavity.
34. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 28, further comprising at least one porous membrane attached to said body.
35. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 34, wherein said porous membrane defines a space and said seed molecules are located within the space.
36. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 34, wherein said seed molecules are attached to said membrane.
37. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 34, wherein two porous membranes are attached to said body so as to define a space and said seed molecules are located within the space.
38. A replaceable reagent contact element for a bio-polymer synthesis apparatus, comprising:
a body, wherein said body comprises a reactive functionality.
39. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 38, further comprising axial and radial locating elements.
40. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 39, wherein said body defines a cylindrical space.
41. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 40, wherein said body defines a groove adapted to frictionally engage a circumferential protrusion.
42. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 40, wherein said body comprises a flange.
43. A replaceable reagent contact element according to claim 40, wherein said body defines at least one slot.
44. A method of synthesizing a biopolymer, which comprises:
providing a replaceable reagent contact element, the element comprising seed molecules;
contacting a reagent solution with the replaceable reagent contact element such that the seed molecules contact the reagent solution, the reagent solution containing molecules to be attached to the seed molecule;
attaching the molecules in the reagent solution to the seed molecules; and
repeating the contacting and attaching steps until a desired biopolymer is formed.
45. A method according to claim 44, wherein the seed molecule comprises a nucleotide or nucleoside.
46. A method according to claim 44, wherein the seed molecule comprises an amino acid.
47. A method according to claim 44, wherein the seek molecule comprises a reactive functionality.
48. A method of synthesizing a biopolymer which comprises:
providing a replaceable reagent contact element, the element comprising a reactive functionality;
contacting a first reagent solution containing a first molecule with the replaceable reagent contact element such that the reactive functionality contacts the reagent solution;
attaching the first molecule to the reactive functionality;
contacting the replaceable reagent contact element with at least one additional reagent solution containing at least one additional molecule;
attaching the additional molecule to the first molecule; and
repeating the contacting and attaching steps with additional reagent solutions containing additional molecules until a desired biopolymer is formed.
49. A method according to claim 48, wherein the first molecule is a nucleoside or nucleotide.
50. A method according to claim 48, wherein the first molecule is an amino acid.