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DNA synthesis, the ability to write DNA, is a technology in life sciences research and engineering. Ansa Biotechnologies is developing a DNA synthesis technology that use enzymatic DNA synthesis to make DNA.
Soon after the discovery of polymerase enzymes that copy DNA, scientists have attempted to use a polymerase to write a desired sequences. One particular polymerase, Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase (TdT), has been considered the prime candidate for this purpose because, unlike other polymerases that copy an existing sequence, TdT creates random DNA. In order to use TdT for the synthesis of a desired sequence, its activity must be controlled so that it adds a single base to a DNA molecule and then stops, so the desired sequence can be synthesized step-by-step. Proposals to employ TdT for the stepwise synthesis of desired sequences date back to the early 1960s. However, controlling TdT's additions while maintaining its incorporation kinetics has proven to be difficult. Ansa are developing a technique to control additions of a polymerase that use TdT for de novo DNA synthesis.
The technology is based on polymerase-nucleotide conjugates that enable single nucleotide addition by a polymerase.
