Dr. Oligo

With the discovery of the double-helical structure of DNA (1953) and a better understanding of its chemistry, synthesizing DNA became a possibility. Earlier work done by H. Gobind Khorana and Robert Letsinger, and the advances in organic and synthetic chemistry fuelled by the Human Genome Project made it possible to have DNA synthesizers in Biology labs. 

Synthesis of DNA of short lengths called oligonucleotides or simply oligos was needed to carry out one of the earliest molecular biology experiments - PCR that made identification and reading (via sequencing) of DNA possible. Oligos of 20 - 22 nucleotides (the building blocks of DNA - A, T, G and C are known as nucleotides) in length called as primers are used for carrying out PCR.

Other advanced techniques that identify DNA or RNA inside the tissues and individual cells also rely on oligos. Nowadays, it is much easier and quicker to order oligos from commercial vendors. But there was a time when IGIB would synthesize oligos for not just the institute but also for other research institutes.