10173595Fast-Track Novel Gene Synthesis Method for Near-Term Market LaunchClosedFast Start ResponseInnovate UKThe ability to produce synthetic DNA is essential for Engineering Biology. Nevertheless, DNA synthesis remains slow and expensive. The landscape is dominated by technology originally developed in the 1980s, namely the phosphoramidite method. This uses cyclic chemical reactions to build up short DNA strands known as oligos, one nucleotide at a time. These strands must then be assembled correctly and joined together to produce the desired target genes. While technological advancements have improved this method's efficiency and scalability, it still has inherent limitations. Errors and side reactions can occur, and since no cycle is 100% efficient, the maximum feasible oligonucleotide length is around 100 nucleotides. Despite these shortcomings, the gene synthesis industry almost exclusively uses the phosphoramidite method to assemble custom genes from multiple shorter oligonucleotides. This makes gene synthesis time-consuming, costly and leads to a high environmental impact. Most importantly, these outdated methods cannot keep pace with current demand. A different approach is needed to reduce costs and speed up gene synthesis, a well-recognised problem in biological research, as is the need to make gene synthesis more sustainable. Blue Beagle Bio has devised a transformative, gene synthesis approach designed around an entirely different concept, liberating gene synthesis from the constraints of oligonucleotide synthesis. We propose developing our proof-of-concept technology to be compatible with any target sequence while expediting production times. We will fully automate the process with our subcontractor, paving the way to commercialise the method as a gene synthesis service soon after project completion. Importantly for the UK, there are **no** **companies with facilities in the UK offering** **low-cost gene synthesis**. As a result, the vast majority of UK scientists must **import synthetic DNA from overseas suppliers**, which adds shipping delays to already lengthy production times. This slows down vital research, from developing new medicines to responding to emerging health threats, and puts UK innovators at a disadvantage compared with other countries with local providers, such as the US, China and those in the EU.