Scientists Discover DNA Polymerases Can 'Doodle' Long Genetic Sequences

New research shows these molecular machines can create novel DNA without a template, opening up possibilities for biotechnology.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 12:16am

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A study led by researchers at the University of Bristol has found that the DNA polymerase proteins responsible for copying genetic information can also create entirely new DNA sequences through a process called 'doodling'. The scientists analyzed thousands of these doodled DNA fragments and discovered they can be highly diverse and complex, with the ability to control the composition of the sequences by adjusting factors like temperature and available building blocks.

Why it matters

Current methods for synthesizing long DNA strands are slow and limited, but the discovery of polymerase 'doodling' could provide a faster and more versatile way to generate novel genetic material. This has implications for understanding how new DNA emerges naturally, as well as potential applications in biotechnology and genetic engineering.

The details

The study, published in Nature Communications, used nanopore sequencing to analyze the doodled DNA produced by various polymerase enzymes. The researchers found the sequences ranged from simple repeating patterns to elaborate multi-base motifs, with the specific output depending on the polymerase type and reaction conditions. By limiting the available DNA building blocks, they were able to steer the polymerases to create long stretches of highly regular repeating sequences exceeding 1,000 bases.

  • The study was published on April 2, 2026.

The players

Simeon Castle

A PhD student in Engineering Biology at the University of Bristol School of Biological Sciences who conducted the research as part of his doctoral work.

Thea Irvine

A PhD student in Engineering Biology at the University of Bristol School of Biological Sciences and co-lead author on the study.

Thomas Gorochowski

Professor of Biological Engineering and a Royal Society University Research Fellow at the University of Bristol, who served as the senior author on the paper.

University of Bristol

The institution where the research was conducted, through its School of Biological Sciences.

Replay Holdings Inc.

A company that provided support for the study.

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What they’re saying

“We used nanopore sequencing to read the full-length sequences of thousands of DNA molecules that polymerases had created entirely on their own. What we found was far more diverse and complex than anyone had appreciated – from simple two-base repeats to elaborate eight-base motifs, all varying depending on which polymerase was used and the reaction conditions.”

— Simeon Castle, PhD student in Engineering Biology

“One of the most exciting findings was that we could actually steer what the polymerases produced. By changing the temperature or limiting which DNA building blocks were available, we could shift the composition of the sequences generated.”

— Thea Irvine, PhD student in Engineering Biology

“Doodling by DNA polymerases has been known about for decades, but has largely been treated as a curiosity. Our work shows it is a tuneable process with implications for how new genetic material is created and a real potential for biotechnology.”

— Thomas Gorochowski, Professor of Biological Engineering

What’s next

The researchers plan to further explore how to harness polymerase 'doodling' for the guided synthesis of long DNA sequences, potentially combining their findings with advances in AI-powered protein design.

The takeaway

This discovery of DNA polymerases' ability to create novel genetic material through 'doodling' could lead to breakthroughs in biotechnology, providing a faster and more versatile method for synthesizing long DNA strands compared to current slow chemical processes.