| abstract |
The present invention provides a nuclease resistant single-stranded non-naturally occurring nucleic acid molecule having a formula: [(D)xa(R)ya]a[(D)xb-y(R)yb-y]b-y [(D)xz(R)yz]z, wherein each D represents a deoxyribonucleotide which may be the same as, or different from, any other deoxyribonucleotide present in the molecule; wherein each R represents a ribonucleotide which may be the same as, or different from, any other ribonucleotide present in the molecule; wherein each of xa, ya xb-y, yb-y, xz and yz represents an integer which may independently vary from 0 to 10; and wherein each of a, b-y, and z represents an integer which may independently vary from 0 to 50. |