Cambrian Genomics

Cambrian Genomics was a biotechnology company based in San Francisco which used a laser-based technique to synthesize DNA.[2][3] Cambrian Genomics produced genetic material for a 2013 effort to produce genetically modified glowing plants for sale to the public.[4] A Kickstarter campaign raised $500,000 for the Glowing Plant project.[5]

Cambrian Genomics
IndustryBiotechnology
FoundedSan Francisco, United States (2011 (2011))[1]
FounderAusten Heinz[1]
Headquarters
San Francisco Edit this on Wikidata
Websitecambriangenomics.com Edit this on Wikidata

Cambrian Genomics maintained that it could make any life form by laser printing DNA.[6] It was able to print DNA for companies such as Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.[7] The company received investments from investors such as Peter Thiel, Bre Pettis from Makerbot, Bryan Johnson from Braintree, Jeff Hammerbacher from Cloudera, Carl Bass and Jeff Kowalski of Autodesk, Dave Friedberg from Climate Corporation, and VC firms.[8] It later promoted that its customers can design new creatures by modifying the genetic codes of plants and animals using a computer.[9]

In 2014, Cambrian Genomics raised a $10 million round of funding intended for printing DNA for customers in the industrial chemical and agricultural industries.[10]

The company's founder, Austen Heinz, committed suicide at the age of 31 on May 24, 2015.[11]

The company encountered difficulties getting plants to emit significant amounts of light, and announced via email in December 2017 that it had exhausted other money-earning bioluminescence ideas and was ceasing operations.

Cambrian Genomics used commercially available genome sequencers, as well as a sequencer built by Heinz. The sequencer allowed them to recover the underlying DNA rather than destroying it in the sequencing process. The company then used laser-pulse catapulting to eject copies of DNA. Clients could use polymerase chain reaction to copy that new synthetic DNA and insert it into cells.[12]

References
  1. Grens, Kerry (11 June 2015). "Synthetic Biology Entrepreneur Dies". The Scientist. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  2. Lee, Stephanie (3 January 2015). "Controversial DNA startup wants to let customers create creatures". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  3. Stein, Rob (7 May 2015). "DNA 'Printing' A Big Boon To Research, But Some Raise Concerns". NPR. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  4. Collins, Katie (30 October 2014). "How to laser print glowing plants and living metals". Wired UK. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  5. Conner, Forrest (12 November 2014). "Cambrian Genomics laser prints DNA to rewrite the physical world". Tech Republic. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  6. O'Brien, Chris (2014-10-29). "Cambrian Genomics CEO: We'll design every human on a computer and make poop smell like bananas". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  7. Forrest, Conner (2014-11-12). "Cambrian Genomics laser prints DNA to rewrite the physical world". TechRepublic. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  8. Forrest, Conner (November 12, 2014). "Cambrian Genomics laser prints DNA to rewrite the physical world". TechRepublic. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  9. Lee, Stephanie M. (2015-01-04). "Controversial DNA startup wants to let customers create creatures". SFGATE. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  10. "Cambrian Genomics CEO says his company just raised $10M to 'print more DNA'". VentureBeat. 2014-11-20. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  11. Grens, Kerry (11 June 2015). "Synthetic Biology Entrepreneur Dies". The Scientist. Retrieved 9 December 2015.(subscription required)
  12. "Bio-Hackers, Get Ready". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
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