Week 3 — Lab Automation

One of the great parts about having an automated robot is being able to precisely mix, deposit, and run reactions without much intervention, and design and deploy experiments remotely.

For this week, we’d like for you to do the following:

Find and describe a published paper that utilizes the Opentrons or an automation tool to achieve novel biological applications. Write a description about what you intend to do with automation tools for your final project. You may include example pseudocode, Python scripts, 3D printed holders, a plan for how to use Ginkgo Nebula, and more. You may reference this week’s recitation slide deck for lab automation details. While your description/project idea doesn’t need to be set in stone, we would like to see core details of what you would automate. This is due at the start of lecture and does not need to be tested on the Opentrons yet.

Example 1: You are creating a custom fabric, and want to deposit art onto specific parts that need to be intertwined in odd ways. You can design a 3D printed holder to attach this fabric to it, and be able to deposit bio art on top. Check out the Opentrons 3D Printing Directory.

Example 2: You are using the cloud laboratory to screen an array of biosensor constructs that you design, synthesize, and express using cell-free protein synthesis.

Echo transfer biosensor constructs and any required cofactors into specified wells. Bravo stamp in CPFS reagent master mix into all wells of a 96-well / 384-well plate. Multiflo dispense the CFPS lysate to all wells to start protein expression. PlateLoc seal the plate. Inheco incubate the plate at 37°C while the biosensor proteins are synthesized. XPeel remove the seal. PHERAstar measure fluorescence to compare biosensor responses.