Where Synthetic DNA Is Made — And Why Global Oversight Is Falling Behind

Nearly two decades ago, journalist James Randerson made a startling discovery: with a fabricated company name, a free email address, a mobile number and a residential address in north London, he was able to order a sequence of smallpox DNA by post. Smallpox—declared eradicated in 1980—is one of history’s deadliest diseases, responsible for roughly 500 million deaths over three millennia and an estimated 300 million in the last century alone.

Why This Matters

If a malicious actor were to synthesize and release smallpox or a similarly dangerous pathogen, the human cost could be catastrophic: historically smallpox killed about three in ten people it infected, and routine vaccination against it has long since ceased for most of the global population. Randerson’s exposé highlighted how weak screening practices at DNA synthesis companies could allow dangerous sequences to be delivered to unvetted recipients.

How the Industry Has Changed

Since that investigation, DNA synthesis has become a foundation of modern biotechnology. Laboratories routinely order custom DNA to develop gene therapies, engineer microbes for agriculture, design vaccines and accelerate many areas of medical research. At the same time, the tools and market have expanded: writing genetic code is cheaper and easier than ever, and more providers and devices are available worldwide.

The New Global DNA Synthesis Map

To illuminate this fast-evolving landscape, the non-governmental organization International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS) launched the Global DNA Synthesis Map. Presented at a Biological Weapons Convention side event in Geneva, the interactive map aggregates data from more than 80 countries to document where DNA synthesis providers operate and which jurisdictions have screening requirements or regulatory frameworks.

“When we started this project a year ago, there was no comprehensive overview of the DNA synthesis landscape,” said Mayra Ameneiros, senior fellow at IBBIS and the map’s project lead.

Key Findings

The map lists 1,023 DNA synthesis companies across 81 countries and highlights a significant gap in safeguards:

• Only about 10% of synthetic DNA providers routinely screen orders for sequences of concern.
• More than 700 companies supply synthetic nucleic acids and benchtop DNA synthesis devices, enabling in‑lab production of custom sequences.
• Over 500 of those companies are in positions where they should be screening orders to meet local regulations.

Emerging Challenges: Decentralization and AI

The spread of bench-top synthesis devices decentralizes DNA manufacturing: labs no longer need to wait for external deliveries, making consistent oversight harder. Artificial intelligence complicates matters further by accelerating the design of both beneficial and potentially harmful sequences. While AI can improve screening, it can also be used to evade current detection tools.

What the Map Aims To Achieve

IBBIS intends the map to be a live, public resource that helps policymakers, companies and researchers identify gaps and converge on best screening practices. The ultimate goal is to move from a patchwork of national rules toward more coherent international norms so that companies and governments can prevent the misuse of synthetic DNA before it becomes a global crisis.

Bottom line: Advances in DNA synthesis bring profound scientific benefits but also lower the barriers to dangerous misuse. Better, more consistent screening and international cooperation are urgently needed to reduce the risk of lab-made pathogens.