Purifying target biomolecules, such as nucleic acids or proteins, from a biological source is a time intensive process and is typically performed by a skilled technician or scientist owing to the highly technical nature of the work. Systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein enable the automated bioprocessing and purification of target biomolecules from a biological source. For example, an instrument and disposable cartridge are provided for automatedly isolating and purifying nucleic acids (such as plasmid DNA from a bacterial culture) or for isolating protein from any biological sample. Such an exemplary instrument and cartridge can work in concert to timely release, mix, and move the target biomolecule and various reagents and buffers through a target biomolecule purification process, resulting in a purified target biomolecule with less manual oversight than traditional approaches.

A nucleic acid extracting device includes a reagent containing unit, a mixing unit, and a flow channel unit. The reagent containing unit contains a specimen, a magnetic bead, and a reagent for extracting. The mixing unit includes a mixing chamber and a stirring assembly. The mixing chamber includes a chamber portion and a tube portion. The stirring assembly includes a main body and an extension. The main body is provided in the chamber portion. The tube portion connects the chamber portion. And the extension connects the main body and extends into the tube portion. The extension and an inner wall of the tube portion have first and second gaps therebetween respectively along first and second directions of the tube portion. The first gap is less than the second gap. The flow channel unit is connected between the reagent containing unit and the mixing unit.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for host cell improvement utilizing epistatic effects. The systems and methods described herein are host cell agnostic and therefore can be implemented across taxa. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods can be implemented to modulate or improve any host cell parameter of interest.

The present disclosure provides a HTP microbial genomic engineering platform that is computationally driven and integrates molecular biology, automation, and advanced machine learning protocols. This integrative platform utilizes a suite of HTP molecular tool sets to create HTP genetic design libraries, which are derived from, inter alia, scientific insight and iterative pattern recognition. The HTP genomic engineering platform described herein is microbial strain host agnostic and therefore can be implemented across taxa. Furthermore, the disclosed platform can be implemented to modulate or improve any microbial host parameter of interest.

The present disclosure provides machine learning techniques for computationally predicting the phenotypic performance of combinations of genetic variations and for designing new improved host cells. The machine learning models and methods described herein are host agnostic and therefore can be implemented across taxa. Furthermore, the disclosed platform can be implemented to modulate or improve any host cell parameter of interest.

The present disclosure provides a HTP microbial genomic engineering platform that is computationally driven and integrates molecular biology, automation, and advanced machine learning protocols. This integrative platform utilizes a suite of HTP molecular tool sets to create HTP genetic design libraries, which are derived from, inter alia, scientific insight and iterative pattern recognition. The HTP genomic engineering platform described herein is microbial strain host agnostic and therefore can be implemented across taxa. Furthermore, the disclosed platform can be implemented to modulate or improve any microbial host parameter of interest.

A method for aspirating a first liquid medium from a sample container with a laboratory automation device, wherein the first liquid medium is above a second liquid medium, which has a higher density and/or viscosity as the first liquid medium comprises: detecting a surface position of a surface of the first liquid medium; calculating an estimated interface position of an interface between the first liquid medium and the second liquid medium from the surface position and calculating a safety position between the surface position and the estimated interface position by adding a safety offset to the estimated interface position; and lowering a pipette of the laboratory automation device into the sample container and aspirating the first liquid medium from the sample container with the pipette by generating an underpressure in the pipette until a pipette tip of the pipette reaches the safety position.

The present application provides robotic liquid handling and assay systems which can selectively and efficiently insert porous media into liquid handling devices, particularly into pipette tips.

A substance separating device includes a reaction vessel provided with an interior that is partitioned into a first chamber and a second chamber by a dialysis membrane, a solution being stored in the reaction vessel. A specimen is stored in the first chamber, and dye-modified molecule that has a binding ability for specifically binding to a substance to be measured having a molecular weight greater than a molecular weight cut-off the dialysis membrane is stored in at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber. The dye-modified molecule has a molecular weight that is less than the molecular weight cut-off of the dialysis membrane.

This instant disclosure provides methods of processing a sample in an automated sample processing device including devices configured for the automated extraction or isolation of nucleic acids. Also provided are plungers for use in such devices and methods of sample processing. Systems for performing the described methods and employing the described plungers are also provided.