introduction: Scientific Principles
Artificial Gene Synthesis is the process of creating genes in a laboratory. The basis of this process is the artificial creation of oligonucleotides. An oligonucleotide is basically an artificially created nucleotide. It can be overlapped with other oligonucleotides to create a single strand of DNA, and hence, artificially synthesize a gene. Today, one of the leading specialists in the 'Artificial Gene Synthesis' field is GeneArt, a company that produces and sells artificially synthesized genes to the public that have been checked for international regulations concerning bio-safety and bio-security and have been approved by the company's own ethical policies.
Genes
However, before going into the process of the artificial synthesis of genes, what exactly is a gene? It is in fact a sequence of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) that contains instructions to produce a protein that displays a specific trait on the body. These genes are in the same location for all humans (Hallick, 1995).
DNA is found in the nucleus of a cell. It consists of connected or overlapping nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of a phosphate group, a sugar group and 1 of the 4 nitrogenous bases: adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine. The connection of nucleotides creates a backbone of the DNA double helix structure, which is typically seen in many DNA diagrams, including the one below (at the bottom of the page). Two backbones are always vertically inverted to one another, with connected base pairs: adenine and thymine, or guanine and cytosine (Warnant et al, 2010). Recapping what was previously stated, specific segments of DNA are genes which produce proteins that display a specific trait on the body.
The Process - Oligonucleotides
This is the process in which artificially synthesized genes are produced in GeneArt. Overlapping or connected oligonucleotides are initially designed in a desired sequence. The process is heavily reliant upon automated machines in the laboratory. Firstly, punch-cutters stamp small filters through air pressure into the small 'wells' of the operating plate (see below). Controlled pore glasses are then applied onto the filters and the necessary oligonucleotides are automatically synthesized according to the initially designed gene sequence. The oligonucleotides that belong to the same gene are pulled by computer-controlled liquid handlers, where they are distributed to the gene synthesis lab to artificially synthesize the desired gene sequence through a Polymerized Chain Reaction. The artificially synthesized gene is then transformed into a bacteria cell which is checked thoroughly by sequencing machines to ensure all the sequencing is correct so they can supply them to their customers (Graf et al, 2011). For more specific information, watch the following video of GeneArt's Artificial Gene Synthesis process.
Genes
However, before going into the process of the artificial synthesis of genes, what exactly is a gene? It is in fact a sequence of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) that contains instructions to produce a protein that displays a specific trait on the body. These genes are in the same location for all humans (Hallick, 1995).
DNA is found in the nucleus of a cell. It consists of connected or overlapping nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of a phosphate group, a sugar group and 1 of the 4 nitrogenous bases: adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine. The connection of nucleotides creates a backbone of the DNA double helix structure, which is typically seen in many DNA diagrams, including the one below (at the bottom of the page). Two backbones are always vertically inverted to one another, with connected base pairs: adenine and thymine, or guanine and cytosine (Warnant et al, 2010). Recapping what was previously stated, specific segments of DNA are genes which produce proteins that display a specific trait on the body.
The Process - Oligonucleotides
This is the process in which artificially synthesized genes are produced in GeneArt. Overlapping or connected oligonucleotides are initially designed in a desired sequence. The process is heavily reliant upon automated machines in the laboratory. Firstly, punch-cutters stamp small filters through air pressure into the small 'wells' of the operating plate (see below). Controlled pore glasses are then applied onto the filters and the necessary oligonucleotides are automatically synthesized according to the initially designed gene sequence. The oligonucleotides that belong to the same gene are pulled by computer-controlled liquid handlers, where they are distributed to the gene synthesis lab to artificially synthesize the desired gene sequence through a Polymerized Chain Reaction. The artificially synthesized gene is then transformed into a bacteria cell which is checked thoroughly by sequencing machines to ensure all the sequencing is correct so they can supply them to their customers (Graf et al, 2011). For more specific information, watch the following video of GeneArt's Artificial Gene Synthesis process.