GenScript, a company offering comprehensive services for biological research and early-phase drug discovery - bio-reagents, assay development & screening, antibody drug development and research animal model etc., has announced that it will be participating in the Synthetic Yeast Genome Sc2.0 Project. The project is initiated and organised by Dr Jef Boeke of Johns Hopkins University's (JHU) School of Medicine.

Under the guidance of Dr Boeke and his research lab, GenScript will complete the synthesis of a bulk length special yeast chromosome arm using GenScript's leading technology platform.

"GenScript is very proud to be a part of the Synthetic Yeast Genome Project," said Dr. Frank Zhang, CEO and Chairman of GenScript. "Dr. Jef Boeke is leading a very significant and far-reaching research project. The ultimate goal is to generate an ideal model organism, and to design a synthetic biological system for the production of drugs, fuels, and other materials. GenScript is excited for the opportunity to contribute towards this goal."

In November 2011, Dr Boeke's lab published a landmark paper in Nature, which reported that the first multi-purpose designer yeast chromosome arm was successfully synthesized and was shown to be functional. After that, many international laboratories have joined his effort to pursue the synthesis of the entire yeast genome. GenScript is the only commercial entity to be invited to participate in this large-scale project.