RAN Newsletter 02/2024New Center for Synthetic Genomics
Applying and developing new technologies for DNA synthesis to pave the way for producing entire artificial genomes – that is the goal of a new interdisciplinary centre starting up at Heidelberg University, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. The aim is to spark new developments in synthetic genomics at the Center for Synthetic Genomics, through basic research and technology development using methods from artificial intelligence.
Eventually it should be possible to design and synthesise long DNA sequences for applications in research, nanomaterials science or medicine. The Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung (CZS) is financing the establishment of the Center over a period of six years with a total amount of twelve million euros. The Centre started work in January 2024. The first spokesperson is systems biologist Prof. Dr Michael Knop, deputy director of the Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH).
While the past two decades of genome research were marked by the development of new genome sequencing techniques, it will become possible in future to modify genomes more quickly and easily, or even to create entirely new genomes, using innovative methods of DNA synthesis and genome assembly. This is the vision that the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung Center for Synthetic Genomics Heidelberg – Karlsruhe – Mainz (CZS Center SynGen) will pursue in the coming years. The researchers from the three universities want to design synthetic DNA sequences with the aid of AI-based methods of analysis and modelling, in order to make targeted changes in the genome of organisms and give it new functionalities. The aim is to extract from them what are called biologics, that is, products manufactured by biotechnology methods. These are eventually to be used to produce bio-based medicines, gene therapies for diseases and biofuels, or to drive research into novel materials.
“Synthetic genomics is a young but rapidly growing research area globally, with transfer potential for different socially relevant challenges”, says Center spokesperson Michael Knop. “In our new centre we will pool the complementary expertise of the three strong research universities at Heidelberg, Karlsruhe and Mainz in the life sciences, molecular systems engineering and biomedical research. That way, we intend to coordinate all the steps in synthetic genomics, from design and production right up to the application of synthetic genetic materials and organisms.” The other members of the three-person management committee of the CZS Center SynGen are molecular biologist Prof. Dr Sylvia Erhardt from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and biophysical chemist Prof. Dr Edward Lemke from Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz.
Researchers collaborating at the three locations represent different disciplines, including biology, biochemistry, biophysics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and bioengineering, as well as philosophy and law, genomics, immunology, epigenetics, virology and data science. In addition, more international experts and early-career researchers are to be recruited to work at the new centre. A competence centre for the synthesis of synthetic DNA is likewise to be set up in Heidelberg, the CZS Center Synthetic DNA Accelerator Lab. Also involved in the CZS Center SynGen are scientists from the German Cancer Research Center and the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, as well as external partners from academia and business.