Synthetic DNA has largely been viewed as a commodity in the life sciences. Most vendors’ products are indistinguishable — after all, regardless of the underlying synthesis technology, it’s all DNA in the end. In that case, it can seem like the only way to choose between products is price per base. Right?
Actually, with ongoing advances in synthetic biology and recent developments in DNA synthesis technology, the cost of synthetic DNA has gotten a lot harder to gauge. Here at Ansa, we are all about transparency, and nowhere is this transparency needed more than in understanding the value of a DNA product. So, let’s consider the many factors that contribute to the real cost of synthetic DNA.
The Key Factors That Influence DNA Synthesis Cost
Price
Gene synthesis is a crucial aspect that affects overall expenses. The repetitive sequences within genes require specialized technology for successful synthesis. This is vital when managing ambitious gene synthesis projects, particularly on a limited budget. DNA manufacturers typically promote their most competitive prices so verify those rates apply to your specific order before being careful to make sure that any “best available” price applies to your specific order before you submit.
Most DNA synthesis vendors have trouble with longer constructs, so they actually raise the price per base as lengths increase. We know that length has been one of the biggest constraints in DNA synthesis, so we priced our longest products to make them as attainable as possible for customers. With our XL Clonal DNA — sequences ranging from 7.5 kb to 50 kb — Ansa’s price per base goes down as the length of the product increases. The longer you go, the more value you get.
Reliability and turnaround time
Most of us have shared this unhappy experience: finding an awesome online deal for the perfect gift, only to have it take so long to be shipped that it arrived well past the birthday or holiday when we would have given it. This is why cost can’t be the whole consideration for any order; reliability and turnaround time are equally important.
In the world of DNA synthesis, reliability covers a couple of different facets. It’s essential in the ordering process: can you reliably order the sequences you want, or does the vendor force you into a complex codon optimization loop that leaves you with a sequence you barely recognize? It’s also critical in the manufacturing process. Too many synthetic DNA vendors accept orders and then fail to deliver all of the sequences, often taking weeks or months before alerting the customer that some of the order was canceled.
That’s why unreliable manufacturing is also a drag on the overall synthesis turnaround time. Vendors often make promises about the fastest an order might arrive — but, like that “best available” pricing, when you read the fine print, the fastest shipping window might not apply to your order. Customers know that the easiest sequences in their order will ship out first, but the longer or more complex sequences can be delayed weeks or months beyond the expected delivery date.
None of this would be considered acceptable for any other product. How can scientists successfully plan and execute experiments when they don’t even know when their DNA will arrive, if it ever arrives at all? This leaves teams scrambling to fill gaps in their lab schedules or to push back key experiments that should be done sooner. Large operational costs can accumulate due to these last-minute changes in synthesis timing as well.
If you don’t know what DNA you’ll get or when you’ll get it, that’s a cost in itself. Reliability in service and turnaround time matters, especially in fields like gene therapy development where delays can directly impact project timelines. We introduced the Ansa On-Time Guarantee to improve service and delivery speed for DNA synthesis. Ansa guarantees your DNA and Gene Synthesis order will ship on or before the committed date. If we miss the deadline, your entire order is free of charge. With our industry-first guarantee, scientists can now have the same confidence when they place an order for synthetic DNA that they have when they order any other reagent or consumable. Our streamlined enzymatic synthesis methods support reliable production of even highly complex genetic constructs.
Ansa On-Time Guarantee
We’re upending the entire synthetic DNA ordering process. Get your complete order on time, or it’s free. Learn more.
Accuracy
Closely related to reliability, accuracy is critical for ensuring that the DNA delivered represents the actual sequence ordered. It’s common for scientists to assume that all the synthetic DNA sent to them matches the desired sequence, but it’s also common for only some of the DNA to match — putting the burden on scientists to use their own sequencing workflow to check the products. It’s yet another hidden cost in the synthesis process.
Every synthetic DNA vendor has a quality control process, but not all processes are as rigorous and robust as customers might expect. For example, “sequence-verified” sounds like it would catch any errors to make sure that only the correct sequences are shipped out to a customer. But with longer or highly repetitive DNA products, the snippets of data from short-read sequencers might not actually be able to characterize the full sequence accurately.
At Ansa, we use highly accurate long-read sequencing in our QC process, confirming that even the longest and most complex DNA sequences shipped are the ones that were ordered. We aim to be a trusted partner for our customers, saving them the unnecessary time and cost of having to check a vendor’s work before the synthetic DNA can be used in an experiment.
Environmental cost
This final cost factor isn’t one that will show up in a lab’s budget — but for people who worry about sustainability, it’s a big one. Traditional chemical DNA synthesis, the method used by most legacy vendors, produces a large amount of hazardous waste as a necessary part of the synthesis reaction. That toxic waste cannot be broken down; it requires careful and complex disposal methods. The more DNA scientists order, the more of a hit to the environment those orders create.
Enzymatic DNA synthesis processes, like the one we have developed at Ansa, do not result in any toxic waste — making them a far more sustainable approach as demand for synthetic DNA is set to soar.
How to evaluate the true cost of synthetic DNA
The real cost of DNA synthesis includes not just the price. With many custom DNA synthesis options on the market, hidden costs associated with uncertainty, inaccuracy, and low reliability can quickly add up. To make sure you’re getting real value with your synthetic DNA, be sure to factor in all the costs involved in each order. Here at Ansa, we promise transparency and accountability.