Abstract: The article reviews the use of the term “gain of function” (GoF) and “dangerous gain of function” (DGoF) in both the regulatory space relevant to the United States of America and the biomedical literature. Methods: We identified nearly 20,100 papers in PubMed which mentioned “gain of function” in the title or abstract. Through a series of machine and human evaluations, these were resolved to 145 that appeared to be dangerous gain of function (DGoF). In addition, we evaluated some papers that did not mention gain of function but involved expression of recombinant sequences of concern (SoCs) in heterologous microbes … MORE
Signature Science has validated a SNP mixture deconvolution workflow for two-person DNA mixtures, a breakthrough enabling new leads from evidence previously unusable. When a sample contains DNA from two contributors, our process separates the mixture to produce a single-source SNP … MORE
Abstract: This study evaluated the ability to produce FORensic Capture Enrichment (FORCE) genotypes using amplicon-based and capture-based enrichment assays. The FORCE panel is a standardized set of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers developed for forensic applications. Twelve DNA samples were … MORE
Signature Science Interviewed for RAND AI Safety Paper
March 16, 2026 • Last year, Signature Science AI Biosafety Lead Dr. Danielle LeSassier was interviewed as part of a multi-institutional study led by RAND into the state of Human Uplift Studies for informing AI Safety. As providers in this space, … MORE
Horizon Newsletter – February 2026
We’re gearing up for another ASCLD Symposium and are excited to be part of 2026’s packed agenda! We’re hosting two plenary talks and one deep dive session. Scroll for a preview of SigSci Forensics on the agenda. Dates & Times TBA! View full Horizon Newsletter and sign up for future updates here. MORE
Abstract: Accurate assessment of low-dose neutron radiation exposure remains a central challenge in biodosimetry, particularly for applications requiring non-invasive sample types such as skin. Here, we characterized the transcriptional response of a three-dimensional in vitro human skin model (EpiDermFT) to neutron irradiation at … MORE
Dr. Ben H. Thacker Joins Signature Science’s Managers Committee
Thacker serves as Chief Operating Officer of Southwest Research Institute. AUSTIN, TX – February 10, 2026 – Signature Science, LLC is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Ben H. Thacker, P.E. to its Managers Committee following his appointment as Southwest … MORE
Abstract: Introduction: Nucleic acid synthesis is a dual-use technology that can benefit fields such as biology, medicine, and information storage. However, synthetic nucleic acids could also potentially be used negligently and ultimately cause harm, or be used with malicious intent to cause … MORE
Horizon Newsletter – November 2025
Collaboration Leads to a Breakthrough in a Case That’s Close to Home After over 30 years, breakthroughs in forensic science have led investigators to identify a person of interest in the 1991 murders of four young Austin-area girls; Eliza Thomas, Amy … MORE
Signature Science Membership on ARPA-H BREATHE Program Team Announced
October 22, 2025 • A press release issued by The University of Virginia Biocomplexity Institute announced that the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has awarded a contract for up to $40 million through its Bioaerosol Risk Assessment interVention Engineering … MORE
Company will apply biological and chemical threat expertise to evaluate AI models for risk of malicious misuse. AUSTIN, TEXAS – October 21, 2025 – Signature Science, LLC, has been selected for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for … MORE