Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

This NSERC RTI application is requesting funds to purchase a bench-top DNA synthesizer to print long DNA fragments for synthetic biology applications. Synthetic biology can be thought of as molecular lego, where segments of DNA with defined functions are assembled to build larger and larger machines with defined functions. Some examples of synthetic biology applications are building genetic pathways for production of natural products, to build artificial plasmids or chromosomes, and to build genetic switches to control gene expression. Underlying all of synthetic biology is the requirement to rapidly and accurately synthesize long DNA fragments. The requested equipment represents the state-of-the-art in benchtop DNA synthesis, allowing allow researchers to print up to 32 DNA fragments at a time. The requested DNA printer is more cost and time effective than using commercial sources. The DNA printer will enable the research projects of a large group of researchers at Western University, and allow our research trainees unparalleled access to the latest synthetic biology technology, positioning them for future success.