Home Synthetic Biology DNA Synthesis Give A Dog A Bone: Touchlight’s Cell-free DNA Vector Synthesis Ignites Genetic...

Abstract helical pattern, illustration — Credit: Getty Images | Science Photo Library

Give A Dog A Bone: Touchlight’s Cell-free DNA Vector Synthesis Ignites Genetic Medicine Manufacturing

The British company is disrupting the decades-old technology of DNA production with novel synthetic “doggybone” DNA and enzymatic production

By Jonathan Grinstein, PhD

June 20, 2022

Credit: Getty Images | Science Photo Library

Touchlight is “industrializing” plasmid synthesis to support the development of DNA-based genetic medicines. Based in London, Touchlight has developed a novel, synthetic DNA vector known as “doggybone DNA” or dbDNA™—a minimal, linear, covalently closed structure. This enzymatically synthesized DNA can incorporate a gene of interest up to 20 kilobases (kb), making it very flexible to support a range of genetic medicines . . .