DNASynthese

DNASynthese is the process of chemically synthesizing deoxyribonucleic acid sequences in the absence of a natural template. It enables the creation of arbitrary DNA constructs, from short oligonucleotides used in primers to full genes and genomes, for use in research, biotechnology, and medicine.

Historically, solid-phase DNA synthesis using phosphoramidite chemistry was developed in the late 1970s and 1980s, which enabled automated production of short DNA fragments. The ability to assemble longer sequences, or gene synthesis, emerged in the 1990s and accelerated in the 2000s with new assembly methods and commercial providers.

Methods: Oligonucleotides are built on a solid support; longer sequences are produced by assembly techniques such as overlap-based assembly, Gibson assembly, and other seamless cloning strategies. High-throughput approaches via microarray-based synthesis allow thousands of sequences to be produced in parallel. All synthesis typically includes sequence verification by DNA sequencing.

Applications: fundamental research in genetics and molecular biology, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, production of biologic therapeutics and vaccines, diagnostics, and even DNA data storage.

Safety and regulation: DNA synthesis is subject to biosafety and biosecurity oversight. Vendors screen orders for sequences that could pose risks, and researchers adhere to institutional and national guidelines. Ethical and legal considerations address dual-use risks and responsible innovation.