Seattle Biotech Hub Developing 'DNA Typewriter' to Record Cellular Changes

The $75 million project, a collaboration between the University of Washington, the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, and the Allen Institute, aims to transform cells into tiny recording devices for a deeper understanding of cellular processes.

Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology, a collaboration between the University of Washington, the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, and the Allen Institute, is developing technology to transform cells into tiny recording devices.
The project, funded by $75 million from tech billionaires, aims to use genetically modified cells to capture a DNA-based record showing how they change over time.
The technology, likened to a 'DNA typewriter', could lead to a deeper understanding of cellular processes, including disease progression and healthy cell growth.
Two techniques, DNA Typewriter and Engram, are being developed to record and assign meanings to biological signals over time.
Findings from the research will be shared widely within the scientific community, with potential applications in studying cell multiplication, tissue engineering, and disease treatment.