Seattle biotech hub pursues ‘DNA typewriter’ tech with $75M from tech billionaires

A new Seattle biotech organization, the Seattle Hub for Synthetic Biology, has received $75 million in funding from the University of Washington, the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, and the Allen Institute. The initiative aims to research “DNA typewriters,” self-monitoring cells that could revolutionize biology. By leveraging DNA as a storage medium for information, the organization seeks to develop a technology that can monitor and record cell activities over time. The project is a collaborative effort between well-funded research outfits and UW Medicine, focusing on a new model of collaboration that balances academic and commercial approaches.