Researchers at Harvard have developed a silicon chip that synthesizes 64 DNA sequences simultaneously using electricity and water-based enzymes. The device offers a cleaner alternative to traditional chemical methods for producing synthetic DNA.
The chip was unveiled in a study published in Nature Electronics. It relies on controlled electrical currents to trigger DNA-building reactions at specific sites on the silicon surface, avoiding hazardous organic solvents.
Led by Donhee Ham, the John A. and Elizabeth S. Armstrong Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the team adapted technology originally designed for recording neuron activity. Each of the 64 synthesis sites features ring electrodes that localize acidic conditions to grow unique DNA strands up to 39 nucleotides long.
The researchers demonstrated the chip by encoding a 169-byte text into the synthesized sequences. They noted that scaling the approach will require advances in deprotection chemistry, as current limitations stem from the enzymes rather than the silicon hardware.
The project involved collaborators from the Broad Institute, DNA Script, and POSTECH. Harvard's Office of Technology Development has filed related intellectual property.
