US cracks down on DNA orders to keep dangerous bugs out of the wrong hands

The US government has established its first mandatory regulations for the synthetic DNA industry. Called the National Policy for Nucleic Acid Synthesis Screening, the new rules require federally funded scientists to purchase synthetic DNA and lab equipment only from approved suppliers. These vendors must now verify customer identities and screen all orders for sequences that could be used to create toxins or dangerous pathogens.

The policy replaces a previous voluntary system and aims to close security gaps as experts warn AI could make designing harmful biological agents easier. While the rules currently only apply to government-funded researchers, experts believe the standards will pressure the entire industry to adopt similar screening for all customers. This marks a significant shift toward proactive biosecurity in an era of rapidly advancing biotechnology.