Addgene

Addgene is a nonprofit plasmid repository and resource for the life sciences. It collects, stores, and distributes plasmids and related genetic materials used in molecular biology research, enabling scientists to access well-characterized reagents and associated data. Through donations from laboratories worldwide, Addgene builds a centralized catalog of plasmids with sequence information, maps, and metadata, each assigned a unique catalog number.

Online services allow researchers to search the collection, request plasmids, and complete the necessary material transfer and biosafety steps before shipment. Plasmids undergo quality control, including sequence verification, to help ensure accuracy and traceability. In addition to distributing materials, Addgene provides educational resources, protocols, and documentation to support reproducibility and standardization in experiments.

The organization operates as a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, funded by donations, grants, and service-related revenue. It collaborates with universities, research institutes, journals, and industry partners to broaden access to genetic tools while maintaining biosafety and ethical standards. Addgene's work has facilitated sharing of plasmids across the global research community, contributing to advances in genetics, biotechnology, and biomedical science.