What are Orthogonal DNA Sequences? When reading a paper, I came across the following statement


  Standard vectors were constructed, flanked by pairs of homology sequences derived from yeast barcodes at the ends of each expression cassette. We reasoned that as these barcode sequences were designed to be orthogonal, they could serve a dual purpose of reducing the probability of mis-annealing and dictating the assembly order of multiple cassettes.


I am not sure what the "orthogonal" means here. I think it is about synthetic biology.
Orthogonal DNA sequences are the shortest possible single stranded nucleotide stretches constructed. These sequences are used as probes in DNA hybridization. Because of its length and construction it has least chance of binding with other probes. 

This technique improves the efficacy and specificity and is clinically used to detect genetic disorders in shortest time duration.

Via:
https://www.nature.com/articles/srep24650

https://www.pnas.org/content/106/7/2289