What Is Biosecurity?
Biosecurity refers to measures taken to prevent or stop misuse or exposure of harmful biological agents.
Minimizing Risk
Formed as an industry-led organization, the objectives of IGSC are to: safeguard biosecurity, apply a common protocol for screening DNA sequences and customers while promoting the beneficial use of gene synthesis.
Maximizing Innovation
With the ability to improve many different industries, the IGSC supports the responsible synthesis of DNA for new medicine, diagnostic tests, agricultural biotechnology products, industrial chemicals and other beneficial applications.
About IGSC
The International Gene Synthesis Consortium (IGSC) is an industry-led group of gene synthesis companies and organizations formed to design and apply a common protocol to screen both the sequences of synthetic gene orders and the customers who place them. In addition, the consortium works with national and international government organizations and other interested parties to promote the beneficial application of gene synthesis technology while safeguarding biosecurity.
Formed in 2009, IGSC members screen synthetic gene orders to identify regulated pathogen sequences and other potentially dangerous sequences. By screening the sequences of ordered genes and vetting customers, IGSC members help to ensure that researchers and the synthetic biology community realize the many benefits of gene synthesis technology while minimizing risk.
Specifically, IGSC members screen the complete DNA and translated amino acid sequences of every double-stranded gene order against the IGSC’s comprehensive curated Regulated Pathogen Database derived from international pathogen and toxin sequence databases.
Currently, the IGSC members together represent a majority of commercial gene synthesis capacity world-wide.
Members
Aclid
Aclid was founded to advance responsible research in synthetic biology. The company's platform is an end-to-end solution for screening DNA sequences and customers.
Aldevron
Aldevron is a premier manufacturing partner in the global genetic medicine field. Founded in 1998 by Michael Chambers and John Ballantyne, the company provides critical nucleic acids and proteins used to make gene and cell therapies, DNA and RNA vaccines, and gene editing technologies. Aldevron’s 600 employees support thousands of scientists who are developing revolutionary treatments for millions of people.
Ansa Biotechnologies
Ansa Biotechnologies combines unique approaches to oligo synthesis and DNA assembly to make DNA in a new way that is faster and more robust than existing methods. Ansa's enzyme-based platform promises to dramatically accelerate innovation in biological research and biotechnology, including therapeutics, diagnostics and biomanufacturing.
Atum
ATUM (formerly DNA2.0) offers an integrated pipeline of solutions including gene design, optimization and synthesis, technology platforms for protein and strain engineering and protein expression.
Azenta Life Sciences
Azenta Life Sciences, formerly GENEWIZ, leads the way in providing cold-chain sample management solutions and sample analysis and multiomics services including Sanger DNA sequencing, gene synthesis, molecular biology, high throughput/next generation sequencing, bioinformatics, and GLP regulatory services. Our integrated portfolio enables researchers across areas such as drug development, clinical research, and advanced cell therapies to advance their scientific discoveries faster, with greater confidence, and with a trusted partner by their side. Azenta Life Sciences is headquartered in Massachusetts, with operations in North America, Europe and Asia.
Battelle
Battelle is the world’s largest independent, non-profit research and development organization, founded to translate scientific and technological advancements into societal benefits. The company’s business spans areas that encompass risk-reduction, security solutions, and technology enablement. Recognizing the emerging complexity and scale of gene synthesis, Battelle developed ThreatSEQ™ services, a web-based, continuously-curated DNA screening platform for the detection, characterization, and threat assessment of sequences of concern.
BGI
With a goal of making state-of-the-art genomics highly accessible to the global research community and clinical markets, BGI has integrated the industry’s broadest array of leading technologies, including high-throughput, cost-effective sequencing and synthesis platform, large sample collection and storage, and expert bioinformatics resources, to offer a wide service portfolio around the world.
Bioneer Corp.
Bioneer Corp., an innovative genomics platform company, pioneers the next generation high performance and rapid automation in delivering cost-efficient total genomics solution.
Blue Heron
Blue Heron Biotech LLC is a member of the Eurofins Group. Blue Heron’s proprietary Genemaker® Technology platform makes us the true experts in custom DNA design and gene synthesis.
Camena Bioscience
Camena Bioscience has developed a highly accurate DNA and gene synthesis technology. Our mission is to enable synthetic biologists by providing access to genes produced with unparalleled accuracy.
The DAMP Lab
The DAMP lab, a cloud laboratory located at Boston University, supports synthetic biology-related activities by creating novel biological systems using a combination of liquid handling robotics, standardized protocols, and computerized software scheduling.
DNA Script
DNA Script was created to revolutionize DNA write with enzymes. Our core R&D efforts have produced innovations in enzyme engineering, surface and nucleotide chemistries, and instrumentation. The integration of these innovations has resulted in SYNTAXTM, the world’s first benchtop DNA printer powered by enzymatic technology.
Edinburgh Genome Foundry
The Edinburgh Genome Foundry specialises in the computer-aided-design and automated assembly of large DNA constructs up to chromosome size.
Elegen Bio
Elegen is bringing unique insights and technical innovation to create high-quality synthetic DNA faster, catalyzing the next revolution in the life sciences. The company is led by seasoned leaders with decades of experience in developing novel and scalable approaches in molecular biology, chemistry, and microfluidics. Elegen uses a proprietary microfluidics approach to build longer, higher-quality DNA on a faster timeline for agricultural, chemical, healthcare, and pharma industries. Founded in 2017, Elegen is privately held and based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Evonetix
Evonetix is developing a radically different approach to gene synthesis – a highly parallel desktop platform to synthesise DNA at unprecedented accuracy, scale and speed.
GenScript
GenScript USA, Inc., is a leading multinational biotech company specialized in biology research and drug discovery/development services.
Ginkgo Bioworks
Ginkgo Bioworks uses the most advanced technology on the planet–biology–to grow products instead of manufacture them. The company’s technology platform is bringing biotechnology into consumer goods markets enabling companies to make better products. In early 2017 Ginkgo acquired Gen9 and has since integrated the company’s DNA synthesis expertise into its foundries to accelerate organism engineering.
GP-Write
Genome Project-write (GP-write) is an open, international consortium, formed as a sequel to the Human Genome Project (HGP-read), and led by a multi-disciplinary group of scientific leaders. The overarching goal is to oversee a reduction in the cost of engineering and testing large genomes in cell lines more than 1,000-fold over the next decade through scientific and technological initiatives. GP-write technology has launched with a whole genome software design platform as a foundational technology in its emergent international foundry and start-up ecosystem.
iBioFAB
The Illinois Biological Foundry for Advanced Biomanufacturing (iBioFAB) is an automated biofoundry based at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a member of the Global Biofoundry Alliance. We aim to automate synthetic biology and biological engineering on the molecule, protein, and cellular scale and provide services for our customers and collaborators, such high-throughput screening and plasmid assembly.
IDT
IDT specializes in DNA synthesis, gene construction, antisense oligos, molecular beacons and a variety of molecular biology products.
Molecular Assemblies
Molecular Assemblies, Inc. is a private life sciences company developing an enzymatic DNA synthesis technology designed to power the next generation of DNA-based products. The company’s patented Fully Enzymatic Synthesis™ (or FES™), based on making DNA the way nature makes DNA, produces long, high quality, sequence-specific DNA reliably, affordably, and sustainably. FES™ technology will enable the reading and writing of DNA for many industries, including industrial synthetic biology and precision medicine, as well as emerging applications of DNA for data information storage, nanomachines, and bio-based electronics. Molecular Assemblies is headquartered in San Diego.
Nuclera
Nuclera is a UK-based biotechnology company driven by the mission to better human health by making proteins accessible. Nuclera is enabling life science researchers to obtain active proteins from DNA in 48 hours through its benchtop eProtein Discovery™ platform.
Raytheon BBN
Raytheon BBN Technologies is a leading research and development company, and provider of critical solutions for national defense and security missions.
Switchback Systems
Switchback Systems is accelerating the Synthetic Biology Revolution by placing tools directly in the hands of scientists. Through a simplified approach, we’ve developed a unique, highly scalable DNA synthesis platform, with a focus on dramatic minimization of time, cost, and waste.
Synbio Technologies
Synbio Technologies, is a full-service provider of advanced synthetic biology products and services. The company specializes in the development of innovative technology platforms for industrial biotechnology applications. They offer a wide range of services including gene synthesis and engineering, protein design and optimization, custom library construction, gene expression testing and analysis, bioinformatics consulting services, product formulation, and manufacturing support. With their dedicated team of experts and progressive DNA technologies, Synbio Technologies enables researchers, scientists, synthetic biologists, and drug developers to push the boundaries of what is possible in the life sciences.
Synplogen
Synplogen is a DNA synthesis company spun out of Kobe University. Combining its proprietary OGAB techniques with cutting edge genetic engineering, information science and robotics, Synplogen provides a variety of services including DNA synthesis, DNA library development and viral vector development for gene therapy applications.
Telesis Bio
Telesis Bio empowers researchers with the tools they need to rapidly and securely design, code, and create synthetic DNA. Creators of the BioXp™ system, the world’s only synthetic biology workstation, and the industry-standard Gibson Assembly® method, Telesis Bio accelerates advances in the fields of personalized medicine, antibody engineering, vaccine development, biologics drug discovery, and more.
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science. Our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.
Touchlight
Touchlight is a privately-owned company based in London, U.K., focused on the provision of DNA services and manufacture of enzymatically produced novel DNA formats, such as doggybone DNA (dbDNA™) to enable the development of genetic medicines. Touchlight provides enzymatic DNA development and manufacturing, from research to GMP grade, for advanced therapy production, in a wide range of modalities including mRNA, viral and non-viral gene therapy and DNA vaccines. dbDNA™ is a linear, double-stranded, covalently closed DNA vector which eliminates bacterial sequences, including antibiotic resistance genes.
Tsingke Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
Tsingke covers the whole industry chain of gene synthesis, from equipment to raw materials. Based on the high-throughput synthesis platform, Tsingke provides a wide range of services including gene synthesis and modified oligos as well as molecular reagents.
Twist Bioscience
At Twist Bioscience, we work in service of people who are changing the world for the better. In fields such as medicine, agriculture, industrial chemicals and data storage, our unique silicon-based DNA Synthesis Platform provides precision at a scale that is otherwise unavailable to our customers.
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Contact Us
Contact the IGSC at info@genesynthesisconsortium.org.