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===Enzymatic Synthesis Chemistry===
===Enzymatic Synthesis Chemistry===
DNA synthesis is currently done using the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligonucleotide_synthesis#Synthetic_cycle phosphoramidite method]. However, phosphoramidite chemistry produced large volumes of hazardous waste, requires precise chemical conditions, and is limited to producing short strands of DNA (oligonucleotides) on the order of ~100 basepairs. Most genes of interest are in the ~5,000 basepair range, so current synthesis methods cannot create a gene-length piece of DNA without further processing.
DNA synthesis is currently done using the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligonucleotide_synthesis#Synthetic_cycle phosphoramidite method]. However, phosphoramidite chemistry produced large volumes of hazardous waste, requires precise chemical conditions, and is limited to producing short strands of DNA (oligonucleotides) on the order of ~100 basepairs. Most genes of interest are in the ~5,000 basepair range, so current synthesis methods cannot create a gene-length piece of DNA without further processing. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2846215/ TdT is one possible enzyme to consider,] and has previously been [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2735642/pdf/11693_2009_Article_9023.pdf the subject of some prior theoretical work.]
Enzymatic DNA synthesis would be a great alternative way to synthesize DNA in space, for the following reasons:
Enzymatic DNA synthesis would be a great alternative way to synthesize DNA in space, for the following reasons:
===Microfluidic Synthesizer Design===
===Microfluidic Synthesizer Design===
To fit all of these fluidic parts into a small enough payload, we have to make everything quite small. Microfluidics is a good way to do this. Good things to know about when designing a device like this: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaphragm_pump diaphragm pumps], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solenoid_valve solenoid valves], and of course [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microfluidics microfluidics in general].
To fit all of these fluidic parts into a small enough payload, we have to make everything quite small. Microfluidics is a good way to do this. Similar oligonucleotide synthesizers that don't quite fit our needs [[http://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/bitstream/handle/10635/20904/WangC.pdf?sequence=1 have been made in the past,] although our final design will most likely look different. Good things to know about when designing a device like this: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaphragm_pump diaphragm pumps], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solenoid_valve solenoid valves], and of course [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microfluidics microfluidics in general].
===Reassembly Chemistry and Algorithm===
===Reassembly Chemistry and Algorithm===
==Inspiration and Research==
==Inspiration and Research==
===History of DNA Synthesizer Idea in SSI===
===History of DNA Synthesizer Idea in SSI===
The idea of a DNA synthesizer for space has been floating around SSI for some time. [[John Cumbers - Synthetic Biology | 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.
The idea of a DNA synthesizer for space has been floating around SSI for some time. [[John Cumbers - Synthetic Biology | 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.