New England Biolabs Signs Agreement with Synthetic Genomics Inc. to Launch Gibson Assembly® Master Mix for Molecular and Synthetic Biology Applications

Ipswich, MA and La Jolla, CA (February 7, 2012) – New England Biolabs, Inc. (NEB) and Synthetic Genomics, Inc. (SGI) jointly announce that they have entered into a licensing agreement whereby NEB will introduce a master mix based on Gibson Assembly™, a revolutionary technology developed by Dr. Daniel Gibson and his colleagues at the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) as part of a program sponsored by SGI. The financial details of this agreement were not disclosed.

Gibson Assembly enables the rapid assembly of multiple DNA fragments using a one-step, isothermal approach. Since its introduction to the life science community in 2009, Gibson Assembly has become a mainstay in the laboratories of many synthetic biologists and is catching on in the wider life science community due to its ease-of-use, robustness and flexibility.

"New England Biolabs is delighted to work with SGI to introduce Gibson Assembly to our customers. As a leader in the discovery and development of cloning tools and technologies, NEB has embraced this approach for building DNA constructs, and believes that it will open new opportunities for the manipulation of complex DNAs," states Richard J. Roberts, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, NEB.

"The Gibson Assembly method is a powerful tool that we believe will enable synthetic biology researchers to make rapid advances leading to new discoveries and products," said J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, SGI. "SGI is pleased to work with industry leader NEB in commercializing this product."

The Gibson Assembly Master Mix includes protocols for primer design, and can be used for assembly of multiple DNA fragments, including linearized vector and insert. For more information about the Gibson Assembly Master Mix, visit www.neb.com/gibsonassembly.

About NEB:
Established in the mid 1970's, New England Biolabs, Inc. is the industry leader in the discovery and production of enzymes for molecular biology applications and now offers the largest selection of recombinant and native enzymes for genomic research. NEB continues to expand its product offerings into areas related to PCR, gene expression, sample preparation for next generation sequencing, cellular analysis, epigenetics and RNA analysis. Additionally, NEB is focused on strengthening alliances that enable new technologies to reach key market sectors. New England Biolabs is a privately held company, headquartered in Ipswich, MA and has extensive worldwide distribution through a network of exclusive distributors, agents and six subsidiaries located in Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan and the UK. For more information about New England Biolabs visit www.neb.com.

About Synthetic Genomics:
SGI, a privately held company founded in 2005, is dedicated to developing and commercializing genomic-driven solutions to address global energy and environment challenges. Advances in synthetic genomics present limitless applications in a variety of product areas, including: energy, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. The company's main research and business programs are currently focused on the following major bioenergy areas: designing advanced biofuels with superior properties compared to ethanol and biodiesel; harnessing photosynthetic organisms to produce value added products directly from sunlight and carbon dioxide; developing new biological solutions to increase production and/or recovery rates of subsurface hydrocarbons and developing high-yielding, more disease resistant and economic feedstocks. For more information go to www.syntheticgenomics.com.

Gibson Assembly® is a registered trademark of Synthetic Genomics, Inc.