Dna synthesizer

Biology Team's Pilot Project

SSI Bio 2016 Pilot Project

SSI Bio is launching with the DNA synthesizer as their primary project.

Components of the Synthesis Project

SSI Bio will be breaking up this DNA synthesizer project into several smaller subteams to tackle the several different systems needed

Safe Phosphoramidite Chemistry

A more conventional alternative to aiming for enzymatic synthesis would be to try to adjust conventional phosphoramidite chemistry to be safer for use in space. This might involve creating a system that can synthesize DNA using safer organic solvents and less toxic reagents.

DNA Product Verification

Overview

Once a strand of DNA is made, we will need to check to make sure that it is the correct desired sequence.

Effects of limits of Space on Synthesizer

Payload Size and Power constraints

We'd like to fit our synthesizer into a 10 centimeter cube, so that it could be launched on a CubeSat or another standardized research payload.

What kind of shielding do we need?

We're not sure what kind of shielding we need! UV radiation can have damage DNA through a process called Direct DNA damage that can lead to thymine or pyrimidine dimers. This is what causes sunburn, and it's why your skin can tan to help block out UVB.

Communication from Device

Depending on our strategy for launching to space, communication from our device to some sort of receiver we can listen to involves a number of interesting questions. How do we return the message that synthesis has been carried out successfully? Will the message describe the sequence of the product created, or a simple boolean yes or no?

History of DNA synthesizer idea in SSI

The idea of a DNA synthesizer for space has been floating around SSI for some time. One of the earliest recordings stretches back to 2013, in a talk given John Cumbers. John Cumbers was also consulted during the initial conception and planning of the project in the summer of 2015.