Coralville's IDT Joins International Gene Synthesis Consortium

Group Coordinates Best Practices in Risk Reduction; Five Member Companies Represent 80 Percent of Worldwide Gene Synthesis Capacity

Five of the world’s leading gene synthesis companies, including Integrated DNA Technologies in Coralville, announced an agreement that they will apply a common screening protocol to promote biosecurity in the gene synthesis industry. By screening the sequences of synthetic gene orders and the customers who place them, the companies aim to support government efforts to prevent the misuse of gene synthesis technology.

Blue Heron Biotechnology, DNA2.0, GENEART, GenScript and Integrated DNA Technologies together represent approximately 80 percent of the global gene synthesis capacity. They have formed the International Gene Synthesis Consortium (IGSC) to coordinate ongoing best practices development and to work together with governments and others concerned to promote the beneficial application of gene synthesis technology and to safeguard biosecurity.

The IGSC’s “Harmonized Screening Protocol for Gene Sequence & Customer Screening to Promote Biosecurity” establishes the five core components that each IGSC company will apply to promote the safe use of synthetic genes:

“The founding companies of the IGSC have been working hand-in-hand with government and with the greater community of scientists and policy advocates to share our expertise in gene synthesis and to help us all devise the most effective biosecurity practices,” said Damon Terrill, Senior Vice President & General Counsel for International Legal and Regulatory Affairs for Integrated DNA Technologies. “For over three years, that collaboration has included close consultation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Departments of Homeland Security and State, as well as with governments in Europe, especially. We encourage all companies who conduct gene synthesis to adopt the IGSC’s approach to sequence and customer screening, and we invite any company with significant business in gene synthesis to join us in the effort.”