How can systems of simple chemical reactions transform into genetic systems capable of replication? What are the molecular and material requirements of such systems, and which specific materials satisfy them? Elm Research Laboratories is proud to announce its participation in a collaborative study funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s Matter-to-Life program to examine these fundamental questions in a class of materials called alternative genetic polymers.

Alternative genetic polymers are sequence-defined materials that, in various respects, act as synthetic analogs of DNA or RNA. The earliest efforts to synthesize and study these materials date back a half-century, but we still have a limited understanding of their properties and functionality. Together with domain experts in organic chemistry and biochemistry from our academic partner laboratories, Elm’s work will generate new insights and methods to unlock the full potential of this promising class of materials.