In an era when Washington seems incapable of finding common ground on virtually any issue, it’s notable to encounter a policy area where stakeholders across the political spectrum agree. Gene synthesis screening has emerged as one of those increasingly rare issues with genuine bipartisan momentum, where economic and security interests and industry expertise all point in the same direction. A recent bipartisan bill, the Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act, outlines an ambitious vision for comprehensive gene synthesis screening standards. To understand why this matters, we need to start with the technology itself.
The biotechnology sector has become a cornerstone of American economic competitiveness, driving breakthroughs in medicine, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing that position the United States at the forefront of global innovation. Critical to this progress are synthetic nucleic acids — custom DNA and RNA sequences that researchers can design on a computer and order like any other lab supply, with the sequences synthesized and shipped directly to their facilities. The sequences can then be used to develop new medicines, engineer improved crops, and advance our understanding of biological systems.
