Synthetic DNA as Easy as 1-2-3 with One-and-Done Enzymes

The best enzyme for de novo DNA synthesis may be one that is denied all its enzymatic attributes. Yes, it acts on a specific substrate. Yes, it catalyzes a chemical reaction. No, it does not exit the reaction unchanged—at least not right away, and not without assistance. Then it’s discarded, which may sound wasteful, except that it may prove less toxic and more efficient than conventional reagents used to produce synthetic DNA.This enzyme is called TdT, or terminal deoxynucleotidyl t