The recent earnings call for Twist Bioscience was full of the usual metrics: revenue growth, margin expansion, new product launches. But beneath the surface lies a story far more compelling - a tectonic shift in the DNA manufacturing landscape that could unlock a geyser of profitability for Twist. It's a story most analysts seem to be missing, focused as they are on the immediate ripples rather than the oncoming wave.

That wave is Express Gene, Twist's revolutionary offering that delivers custom DNA in as little as five days, a timeframe previously unimaginable in the industry. While the transcript highlights Express Gene's 98% on-time delivery rate and its premium pricing potential (20% to 200% over standard genes), it undersells the magnitude of this disruption. Twist isn't just speeding things up; they're fundamentally altering the cost equation and behavioral patterns of the entire scientific community.

Consider this: many researchers, particularly those at academic institutions, have traditionally relied on producing their own DNA. It's a time-consuming, often cumbersome process, but it's been the only option for those who need DNA quickly. Express Gene obliterates this paradigm. Twist is essentially saying: "Stop making your own DNA. We can do it better, faster, and at a price that makes financial sense."

This "DNA makers to DNA buyers" conversion is the hidden goldmine of the Express Gene story. The transcript reveals that Twist has already secured interest from several large pharma companies, hinting at the volume commitments and fixed premium pricing that could underpin a dramatic margin expansion. But the true prize lies in capturing the vast pool of academic researchers, a long-tail market that could generate a surge in revenue and solidify Twist's dominance.

"To understand the potential, let's look at some hypothetical numbers. Assume Twist captures just 10% of the academic gene synthesis market, with an average order size of $500 and a 50% premium for Express Gene. If there are 10,000 active academic labs globally, this translates to $25 million in additional revenue with a substantial margin boost. Now, extrapolate that to the entire gene synthesis market, which is estimated to reach $10 billion by 2028 [source](https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/gene-synthesis-market-1124.html), and the picture becomes truly transformative."

Twist's digital marketing strategy, aimed at reaching these smaller research labs, is a stroke of genius. By leveraging digital channels, Twist can achieve customer acquisition at a fraction of the cost associated with traditional sales forces, further enhancing the profit potential of Express Gene.

Revenue Growth & Margin Expansion

Twist Bioscience has consistently demonstrated robust revenue growth. This growth, combined with margin expansion initiatives like Express Gene's premium pricing, points to a trajectory of increasing profitability.

Express Gene Adoption

The chart below illustrates the rapid adoption of Twist's Express Gene service, highlighting its potential to disrupt the traditional gene synthesis market.

This quiet revolution is happening beneath the radar, camouflaged by the buzz surrounding NGS and biopharma. But make no mistake, Express Gene is the catalyst that could propel Twist Bioscience from a promising growth story to a profitability powerhouse. The transcript's subtle clues, coupled with a back-of-the-envelope analysis, reveal an underappreciated narrative of disruption and potentially explosive financial returns.

"**Fun Fact:** Did you know Twist Bioscience was named after the double helix structure of DNA, which resembles a twisted ladder?"