Genetic Engineering
The direct manipulation of an organism’s genes using biotechnology.
Introduction
In genetic engineering, researchers use recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology to alter the genetic makeup of an organism and directly manipulate its genes, including transferring genes within and across species boundaries to produce modified or completely new organisms. Genetic engineering has applications in clinical medicine, scientific research, industry and agriculture; and it can be used with a wide range of plants, animals or micro-organisms. Precise handling and concentration control of DNA is essential in assembling sequence libraries from functional parts.
How the I.DOT facilitates genetic engineering
DISPENDIX develops innovative technologies for the highly multiplexed assembly of sequence libraries. Specifically, the I.DOT’s technology allows highly multiplexed low-volume dispensing of DNA fragments and reagents in a contact-free manner with no risk of cross-contamination. Multiple liquids can be rapidly distributed and assembled, meeting the needs of complex genetic engineering workflows. Such a process is also called “cherry picking” since it enables the use of small volumes and the flexibility to dispense as needed.
Accelerating drug development
In drug development, assay development aims on delivering specific procedures to assess a compound or examine a compound’s effects on the identified cellular or biochemical targets. Therefore, it is an integral step in the drug discovery process, where significant effort and cost savings are incurred when robust assay development can screen out non-viable candidates early in the process. Often tens of thousands of compounds need to be screened using specifically designed biochemical or cell-based assays. Thus, it is important to have a flexible platform for a large range of assays. CELLINK provides key instrumentation for efficient, high- throughput assay development, including solutions for highly multiplexed low-volume liquid handling, automated live cell imagers, and a variety of bioprinters to create 3D cell cultures, which have better representation of activity response than 2D.
Flexibility allowing screening at a higher speed
The I.DOT can easily dispense into standard microwell plates (including 384, 1536 and higher density formats), allowing for the screening of diverse liquid samples. A single I.DOT source plate can hold up to 96 different compounds, and concentrations can be generated across the plate with different reagent mixtures in each well. This flexibility allows for fast screening of various compounds and reagent compositions.
