Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • NPR

    As Made-To-Order DNA Gets Cheaper, Keeping It Out Of The Wrong Hands Gets Harder

    Labs are churning out more and more synthetic DNA for scientists who want to use it to reprogram cells. Some say the technology has outpaced government safety guidelines put in place a decade ago.
    by Nell Greenfieldboyce Sep 24, 2019 4 minutes
    An employee of the Boston biotech company Ginkgo Bioworks runs a gene sequencing machine through its paces. The company synthesizes thousands of genes a month, which are then inserted into cells that become mini factories of useful products.

    Patrick Boyle recalls that by the time he got his Ph.D. in biology in 2012, he had worked with just a few other people and managed to manufacture six genes, the basic units of heredity.

    "Today, we are synthesizing more than 10,000 genes every month," he says, showing off a lab at a Boston biotech company called Ginkgo Bioworks.

    Making genes from scratch used to be laborious and time consuming, but not anymore. That's why federal officials are now considering new measures to prevent this rapidly advancing technology from being misused to create dangerous viruses or bioweapons.

    Genes are made up of , a "code" determined by four chemical bases — known as A,

    You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

    More from NPR

    NPR2 min readAmerican Government
    As Abortion Looks Like A Key Issue In 2024, Voters More Divided By Party Than Ever
    In a new report, Democrats are increasingly motivated by the issue of abortion - and increasingly supportive, as are independent voters. Republicans views have mostly remained the same.
    NPR2 min readFinance & Money Management
    Fed Keeps Interest Rates At 23-year High
    The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady Wednesday, as inflation remained stubbornly above the Fed's 2% target. Investors now think it could be September or later before rates start to fall.
    NPR4 min read
    What Is 'Communal Living' And Is It Right For Me?
    People who've lived in co-ops, communes, group houses and 'intentional communities' share four questions you should ask yourself before taking the leap.

    Related