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.