title: No training required: experimental tests support homology-based DNA assembly as a best practice in synthetic biology.
abstract: The Registry of Standard Biological Parts imposes sequence constraints to enable DNA assembly using restriction enzymes. Alnahhas et al. (Journal of Biological Engineering 2014, 8:28) recently argued that these constraints should be revised because they impose an unnecessary burden on contributors that use homology-based assembly. To add to this debate, we tested four different homology-based methods, and found that students using these methods on their first attempt have a high probability of success. Because of their ease of use and high success rates, we believe that homology-based assembly is a best practice of Synthetic Biology, and recommend that the Registry implement the changes proposed by Alnahhas et al. to better support their use.
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.|Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: Afnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.|Biochemistry Program, University of Ottawa, Gendron Hall, K1N 6N5 Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.|Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Phenix
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.|Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: Lioudmila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tepliakova
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.|Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: Ian J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Roney
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.|Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jedrysiak
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.|Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Power
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.|Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: Vaibhav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.|Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elnour
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.|Biomedical Sciences Program, University of Ottawa, Marion Hall, K1N 6N5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanzel
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.|Biochemistry Program, University of Ottawa, Gendron Hall, K1N 6N5 Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Alexandra C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tzahristos
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.|Biochemistry Program, University of Ottawa, Gendron Hall, K1N 6N5 Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Shihab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarwar
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.|Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, K1H 8M5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.|Department of Physics, University of Ottawa, MacDonald Hall, K1N 6N5 Ottawa, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: Mads
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kærn
keywords: Cloning; DNA assembly; Gibson; PCR; Seamless; Synthetic biology; iGEM