The Joint Genome Institute's DNA Synthesis Platform capabilities support researchers exploring how to convert sequence into functional assessments. This is done by synthesizing genes, pathways, and whole chromosomes for bioenergy, nutrient cycling and bioproduct applications. 

The team has three subgroups:

  • Synthetic Biology Lab: a user science group dedicated to user project design, assembly, and quality control
  • Strain Engineering Group: a research & development group and focused on new technologies and optimizing tools — including strain engineering — to make them more user accessible
  • Synthetic Biology Informatics Group: a team that develops data science tools for workflow management and novel automations for DNA design, assembly and analysis

Overview of synthesis products

The JGI DNA Synthesis platform enables users to validate hypotheses generated from mining genomic data by designing and assembling physical DNA constructs that can then be functionally characterized. 

 

We provide custom DNA constructs: 

  • Individually arrayed constructs, up to ~150 Kb in length 

  • Pooled libraries such as sgRNA, promoter or MoClo assemblies

DNA Design

Designing functional constructs, generating synthesized DNA parts, accurately assembling these into long fragments, and expressing these in controlled fashions have rapidly evolved. This has paved the way for experimentally validating gene and pathway function in both isolated and genome-wide contexts.

Strain Engineering

CRAGE (Chassis-independent Recombinase-Assisted Genome Engineering), a technique that allows researchers to insert genetic sequences of interest directly into diverse microbes to study function or control expression.

For a list of requestable microbial strains, click here for a downloadable pdf. 

More Resources

Sequencing Submission Requirements
Click for instructions on how to submit sequences for DNA Synthesis
DNA Synthesis Science Program
Our work in DNA synthesis carries over into our Science Programs. Click for a detailed overview of the program and to learn more about its major initiatives

Software Engineers in the Synthetic Biology Informatics Group develop, deploy, and maintain software that support the JGI’s Synthetic Biology Program. 

 

Representative software includes:

gRNA-SeqRET

Check out our organism-agnostic CRISPR gRNA design tool 

Visit gRNA-SeqRET
BOOST

BOOST provides a suite of tools to automate sequence design for assembly by Gibson, Yeast recombination and Golden Gate methods

Visit BOOST

Plus: SynTrack and associated tools, which track samples through the JGI’s Synthetic Biology pipeline as well as provide process automation support

 

Contact

Synthesis Platform Lead

Related

  • Science Programs
    Prospective users are encouraged to reach out to program heads with questions about the JGI’s science and opportunities to partner with the JGI on their research.
    Read More
  • User Programs
    Learn more about our Community Science Program, as well as other collaborative opportunities available through the FICUS call and other special initiatives.
    Read More
  • Mission
    Learn more about the mission of the JGI, as well as that of the DOE Office of Science Biological and Environmental Research program.
    Read More
  • Data Policy & Support
    Find our data policy, auspice statements and other resources for user support, including details and contact for our Project Management Office.
    Read More