Friday, May 10, 2024

Can two small caps become the kings of synthetic biology? Only time will tell!

 Both Twist Biosciences and Ginkgo Bioworks are prominent players 

in the field of  Synthetic biology, but they have different focuses and strengths.

Let’s take a closer look at each company: Twist Biosciences: Core Focus: Twist Biosciences specializes in high-quality synthetic DNA production using its Silicon Platform. They offer custom DNA synthesis services to researchers, biotech companies, and other organizations. Technology: Their Silicon Based DNA synthesis platform allows for efficient and precise DNA manufacturing. Applications: Twist’s DNA products are used in various applications, including Gene Editing, vaccine development, Drug discovery, and more. Collaboration with Ginkgo: Twist has a collaboration with Ginkgo Bioworks, which includes a four-year supply agreement. Ginkgo purchases products from Twist, allowing them to test proteins and develop diverse solutions across multiple industries. Recent Deal: In 2022, Twist agreed to supply at least 100 million base pairs of synthetic DNA to Ginkgo over a one-year period for engineering prototype organisms. Ginkgo Bioworks: Core Focus: Ginkgo is a horizontal platform for cell programming. They aim to make programming cells as easy as programming computers. Technology: Ginkgo’s platform enables biotechnology applications across various markets, including food, agriculture, industrial chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Applications: Ginkgo focuses on organism design and engineering, optimization, and other synthetic biology services. Collaboration with Twist: Ginkgo collaborates with Twist to secure high volumes of DNA. They have ordered approximately one billion base pairs of synthetic DNA from Twist over the past four years for various programs. Expansion Plans: Ginkgo’s collaboration with Twist aims to fuel their expansion plans in the synthetic biology field. In summary, both companies contribute significantly to the synthetic biology ecosystem, but their expertise lies in different areas.
Twist excels in DNA synthesis, while Ginkgo focuses on cell programming and organism engineering.
The collaboration between these two organizations demonstrates their commitment to advancing the field of synthetic biology.

Foot notes:

Most recently Googles "Deep Mind" Ai has been used in combination with synbio, cell programming and gene editing, to further the advancement in cooperation with a number of companies.

With the deep, data set of Alphabet, combined with Deep Mind's cutting edge Ai, and the massive data bank that is the human DNA, medicine and medical disciplines will benefit immensely from what is coming! And, so will human kind!

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Recent advancements in Synthetic Biology or SynBio as Ai Tech begins to move the science forward faster!

 


Here are five significant advancements in synthetic biology:

CRISPR-Cas9: This powerful genome editing tool allows scientists to make precise changes to DNA sequences in living organisms. It has revolutionized genetic engineering and holds enormous potential for developing new treatments for genetic diseases. DNA Synthesis: Advances in DNA synthesis technology have made it easier and cheaper to create custom DNA sequences. Researchers can now design and assemble synthetic genes more efficiently, enabling innovative applications in fields like medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology.
Directed Evolution:
This technique mimics natural evolution in the lab. By introducing mutations into genes and selecting for desired traits, scientists can engineer proteins with improved properties. Directed evolution has led to the creation of enzymes, antibodies, and other biomolecules with enhanced functions. Synthetic Cells: Researchers have made significant progress in constructing artificial cells from scratch. These synthetic cells can perform specific functions, such as producing biofuels or sensing environmental changes. The field of synthetic cell biology aims to create minimal cells with simplified genomes, shedding light on the fundamental principles of life. Metabolic Engineering: Metabolic pathways within cells determine how they process nutrients and produce energy. Synthetic biologists manipulate these pathways to optimize cellular behavior. For example, they can engineer microbes to produce bio-based chemicals, pharmaceuticals, or biofuels more efficiently. These innovations are driving synthetic biology forward, transforming how we produce food, energy, and medicines while addressing some of society’s most significant challenges
Exciting times lie ahead as this field continues to evolve!

Here are some of the companies leading the charge:





X.com/Retirefund

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Ginkgo Bioworks is building out their BioManufacturing Foundry platform which mimics the building of semiconductor foundries of yester year!

 78.63% of #GinkgoBioworks ( $DNA) stock is owned by #Institutional #investors.

Here are some of the major institutional shareholders:

ARK Investment Management LLC owns a significant number of shares in Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DNA). As of the most recent filings, they held 182,192,185 shares during the 3rd quarter of 2023. 
Equitec Proprietary Markets LLC: Holds 672,488 shares (0.5% of the portfolio). Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc.: Holds 55,865,048 shares (2.595% of the portfolio).
(Note: M. Potter who served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chair of the board of Sumitomo Pharma America, and as the Chief Executive Officer of Sumitovant Biopharma, the parent company of five biotechnology companies, was added to the board of Ginkgo BioWorks on April 29th) Salem Investment Counselors Inc.: Holds 4,758,585 shares (0.221% of the portfolio). Vanguard Group Inc.: Holds 132,780,095 shares (6.169% of the portfolio). Lingotto Investment Management LLP: Holds 8,511,301 shares (0.402% of the portfolio). Additionally, during the previous two years, a total of 228 institutional investors and hedge funds held shares of Ginkgo Bioworks.
Some of the most heavily invested institutions include Baillie Gifford & Co., ARK Investment Management LLC, and Nikko Asset Management Americas Inc.. Institutional investors play a significant role in Ginkgo Bioworks’ ownership structure, with a mix of large investment firms and hedge funds holding substantial stakes in the company

Founded in 2008 by five #Scientists from #MIT, Ginkgo Bioworks is headquartered in #Boston. Their mission is to use #Biology to grow better products across diverse markets. They have developed a cell programming platform that enables the growth of biotechnology. Ginkgo’s platform allows for programming cells and designing organisms that behave in pre-defined ways. They work with various industries, from food to fragrance to pharmaceuticals. - - - - - - -
#Ginkgo collaborates with various organizations and companies like:
Pfizer
Pfizer has entered into a multi-target RNA discovery collaboration with Ginkgo Bioworks, cell engineering.
#Motif #FoodWorks: Changing the future of #food. #Bayer: Designing #probiotics for plants. #Allonnia: Enabling bioremediation solutions. #Aldevron: Supporting the #Vaccine #SupplyChain. #Cronos Group: Unlocking potential in #Cannabinoids. #Synlogic: Engineering living #Medicines. #Moderna: Optimizing vaccine processes. #IARPA: Protecting valuable technology. #Robertet: Producing cultured ingredients. And more Ginkgo Bioworks’ innovative approach to synthetic biology has made them a key player in the field, impacting various industries and driving scientific advancements

They have acquired competitors like Zymergen et al, and have a serious "first mover" advantage in the field as they continue to build a "moat" around their business that few if any, will be able to copy!
Discl: We are Long $DNA Stock and added more during April 2024
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