This is adapted from a talk Will Canine gave at SynBioBeta SF 2015 during the Automation and the Internet of Biotech Things session. Biology in the 21st Century We are in the century of software — a world with an API for everything. And yet, the way we do life-science… Read More

Opentrons created Protocol Designer because we wanted scientists to easily create scientific protocols without having to write any code. Here’s how it works. Our goal at Opentrons has always been to democratize lab automation. To do that, we’ve worked hard to: Decrease the cost of equipment so more labs can… Read More

1. Drag file into interface OpenTrons jobs are described in files that the robot reads as instruction set. You download these files from the protocol library or make them yourself. Once you have the protocol you want downloaded, drag that file into the Setup / Run interface. 2. Save the… Read More

Automating your lab workflow not only has the potential to improve your data quality and increase your research output, it can also lead to significant time and money savings. If you’re reading along here, chances are you’ve already realized this, and that lab automation will make your job Automating your… Read More

Since its invention three decades ago, PCR has revolutionized molecular biology in research and clinical laboratories all over the world. This has led to massive advances in basic research, as well as in the diagnosis and classification of infectious diseases, inherited disorders, and cancers, to name a few. Why Automate… Read More

Manual pipetting puts lab workers at risk of developing a repetitive strain injury (RSI). Here’s an infographic showing 10 ways to prevent it. Table of Contents What is Repetitive Strain Injury? Manual Pipetting May Contribute to RSI How You Can Make Manual Pipetting More Comfortable Optimize… Read More

Good quality DNA is key to many life science applications. Automation can help ensure it. Here’s how. Next generation sequencing (NGS) and qPCR applications dominate many areas of life science today, from basic research to clinical diagnostics and drug discovery. These applications are highly sensitive and require scientists to start… Read More

Robots handle repetitive lab tasks so you don’t have to. Here’s how to successfully pitch the idea to your team. Despite the ominous predictions – and we’ve all heard them! – robots are not here to take your job, or the job of anyone else in your lab. Why? Because… Read More

Need to do an n-transfer with multiple pipette volumes in the same protocol? Here’s a hack using the OT-2 and electronic pipettes. OT-2 users frequently run protocols requiring steps for well-to-well transfers necessitating a single-channel pipette, as well as larger distribution transfers made most efficient with the use of a… Read More

If you are working without normal access to your lab, here are 6 resources to help you stay productive. The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the way many life scientists work. Due to increased social distancing policies, researchers are now having to adjust to meeting remotely with their teams, working reduced… Read More