Everybody Likes Faster and Cheaper

In Angewandte Chemie, Scottish researchers describe a dynamic chemistry approach to analyzing DNA, which they say would allow non-enzymatic genotyping. "This was achieved by the synthesis of a PNA [peptide nucleic acids] strand that contained a 'blank' position opposite the nucleobase under analysis in a complementary DNA template," the researchers write. In the Guardian, author Juan Diaz-Mochon says this approach would be faster and cheaper than other testing methods. "The market for DNA testing is quickly expanding as it becomes more affordable. Our method could help reach the goal of complete genome analysis in a few hours for less than $1,000," he says. Diaz-Mochon and his co-author Mark Bradley hold a patent on this concept.