Transforming bio-derived DNA into biotechnology

DNA technology is rapidly expanding, with recent advances pushing functional DNA-based materials toward larger scales. Yet producing chemically modified DNA beyond the milligram-scale remains prohibitively expensive, challenging, and relatively unexplored limiting industrial and translational use. This feature review highlights emerging strategies for sourcing, modifying, and purifying DNA at scales relevant for materials and biotechnology. We compare bio-derived DNA sources (e.g., phage, plasmid, and genomic DNA) to conventional synthetic methods and examine their trade-offs. Critically, we re-examine recent and classic literature to identify chemical and enzymatic reactions practical for modifying bio-derived nucleic acids at relevant scales. Finally, we discuss scalable purification and characterization methods to support high-throughput workflows, enabling broader use of bio-derived dsDNA in next-generation applications.