If you're just worried about making more dna, that is incredibly easy. Assuming the DNA is small enough (ie, the strands are not too long) there's a commonly used technique called PCR. It simply starts with a small amount of DNA and makes more. We use this in our research lab to genotype the knockout mice that we use in experiments.



Now, I can't imagine that you would need a whole lot of this DNA if it is just used to get antibodies from supply animals.



As for price, consider this... Essentially (and so simple it might not be 100% accurate), antivenin is obtained by injecting venom into a horse or other animal with venom (dried, purified, what ever) and the serum is obtained. It sounds like from this article that this combined strand of synthesized DNA is injected and serum is obtained. So, essentially it's the same process as far as the outcome is concerned. Right, we'll need less in the case of a bite, which will save some money. However, I fail to see how vial costs are going to be any less than they are now.



Here's my logic simplified. Take animal species A. Inject with something from snake (venom, dna, what ever). Let animal species A produce antibodies. Purify serum, dry, bottle and sell.



So, we may save on longer shelf life (didn't actually notice that in the article since I skimmed, but someone mentioned it) and fewer doses. Both of these are great, but again, vial for vial, I can't see how it would be much cheaper (and maybe more like the new crotalid AV).



Dave

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