Scale up DNA manufacturing: Integration into a fully automated DNA assembly workflow
AWES CASE STUDY
BACKGROUND
The Edinburgh Genome Foundry (EGF), located within the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, is a dedicated facility for automated design and assembly of large DNA constructs using a combination of state-of-the-art hardware, innovative software, and robotics. The EGF was funded through the UK's Research Councils' "Synthetic Biology for Growth" program, with additional investment from the University of Edinburgh's School of Biological Sciences.
THEIR CHALLENGE
In order to achieve higher sample throughput, the EGF needed a colony picking system that can:
- Plate and streak multiple samples onto automation-compatible SBS format trays
- Be able to fully integrate into their existing, automated workflow\
OUR SOLUTION
- Modified a QPix 420 System to offer access to a robotic arm and hardware for liquid handling, allowing for full integration into EGF's automation setup
- Developed a custom QPix head to allow spreading of 8 samples onto a single, undivided agar tray that meets SBS standards for microplate dimensions
- Provided open API and software support for each uniquely tailored process\
BENEFITS
- With the ability to plate up to 200 samples or pick up 3,000 colonies per hour, the customized QPix System provides the necessary high-throughput sampling
- Reliable sample tracking and data management allows EGF to manage sample data effectively
- Integration of the system into a fully automated workflow reduces employee labor hours and therefore, the financial costs for each EGF project\
A customized QPix System in the EGF. The back panels have
been modified to allow robotic arm access.