Alex Taylor

We engineer biology at its most basic: genes. What if life’s genetic material were reimagined? What if evolution were given a broader chemical palette than DNA, RNA and proteins? We are developing methods for test-tube evolution using synthetic “Xeno-Nucleic Acids” (XNA). Navigating the diverse XNA structure space allows us to discover, engineer and build synthetic enzymes, ligands (aptamers) and nanostructures with novel biochemical properties with a view to applications in precision medicine.