Synthetic Genomics launches DNA maker

The BioXp 3200 DNA workstation from SGI-DNA, a Synthetic Genomics subsidiary.

Advancing Craig Venter's vision of digitizing life, a company founded by the genome pioneer has started early sales of a new DNA workstation that assembles high-quality DNA sequences almost from scratch.

SGI-DNA, a subsidiary of Venter's Synthetic Genomics, announced this month it is selling its BioXp 3200 DNA workstation. It's intended for researchers who do a lot of work with DNA sequences, and who want to save time and improve accuracy by automating the process. The system cost just under $50,000 per machine, plus supplies.

As DNA sequencing becomes more widespread and less expensive, more sequence information becomes readily available. The BioXp device takes advantage of this trend to more efficiently construct sequences of interest. It includes an error-correcting process to boost accuracy.

Instead of isolating known DNA sequences from biological specimens, researchers can load the sequences into the BioXp to directly make the molecules, said Julie Robinson, senior product manager of synthetic biology at Synthetic Genomics.

Early buyers will also get assistance from SGI-DNA in assembling their DNA constructs, including custom synthesis directly by SGI-DNA for building long and difficult DNA sequences, the company says.

"We develop custom reagents for our customers, and they load the device, and it builds the DNA they can use in their studies and workflow," Robinson said.

DNA synthesis has been around for many years, supplied by companies like SGI-DNA. The BioXp provides this ability at the researcher's convenience, Robinson said. Instead of waiting for another company to supply the DNA, researchers can make it themselves when they need it. Or in other words, the instrument helps "democratize" DNA synthesis, she said.

"It helps to bring the workflow control to the customers themselves," Robinson said. "A lot of the tedious steps they have to do now will be automated."

The BioXp is the first step in that automation process, she said, and SGI-DNA plans to expand those capabilities so that steps such as DNA transcription and translation into proteins can be done with the instrument; steps that now generally use living cells.

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Synthetic Genomics launches DNA maker