A system includes a synthesizer unit having a fluid input to receive fluids and a communication input to receive commands to synthesize data-encoded DNA sequences and cleave the DNA. A first flexible chemistry reaction chamber module may be fluidically coupled to the synthesizer unit to receive the data-encoded DNA sequences and amplify the sequences. A deposition unit may be fluidically coupled to the first flexible chemistry reaction chamber module to receive the amplified DNA sequences and encapsulate the amplified DNA sequences into one or more wells in a storage plate for storage and retrieval to and from a plate storage unit. Retrieved DNA may be processed and read by further units.

The invention relates to a method for analyzing molecular properties and/or reaction conditions, comprising a step of providing a first store having a first surface, wherein a specific selection of sample molecules is directly or indirectly bonded to the surface in a defined arrangement, a step of producing at least two transfer stores, wherein at least two additional surfaces are provided, and a reaction step, selected from the group comprising a transfer reaction, an amplification reaction, and/or a derivatization reaction, whereby product molecules can arise and said product molecules and/or the sample molecules bond to the surfaces, wherein there is a clear spatial association between the sample molecules of the first store and the product molecules and/or sample molecules of the transfer stores and the first store, the transfer stores, the sample molecules, the product molecules, the transfer reaction, the amplification reaction, and/or the derivatization reaction is analyzed.

A micro-liquid phase reaction method based on a substrate with a hydrophilic-hydrophobic patterned surface, including the following: applying a liquid phase system containing a hydrotropic substance and/or an amphipathic substance to a hydrophobic smooth plane in a sample-spotting manner to form an array of tiny droplets, subsequently removing the solvent in each droplet to bond the hydrotropic substance and/or amphipathic substance in each droplet to the hydrophobic smooth plane so as to form an array of hydrophilic bonding points, then moving an aqueous phase system or hydrophilic liquid phase system containing more than one reactants over the hydrophobic smooth plane, thereby forming island-like tiny reaction droplets at each hydrophilic bonding point, and finally under the set reaction conditions, reacting the reactants in each tiny reaction droplet. The method allows a parallel processing system for multiple reactions to be implemented under common experiment conditions, and greatly extends the application range thereof.

A method including (a) providing an amplification reagent including an array of sites, and a solution having different target nucleic acids; and (b) reacting the amplification reagent to produce amplification sites each having a clonal population of amplicons from a target nucleic acid from the solution. The reacting can include simultaneously transporting the nucleic acids to the sites at an average transport rate, and amplifying the nucleic acids that transport to the sites at an average amplification rate, wherein the average amplification rate exceeds the average transport rate. The reacting can include producing a first amplicon from a nucleic acid that transports to each of the sites, and producing subsequent amplicons from the nucleic acid or from the first amplicon, wherein the average rate at which the subsequent amplicons are generated exceeds the average rate at which the first amplicon is generated.

Method and apparatus for controlling acoustic treatment of a sample including a liquid. A processing volume in which the sample is acoustically treated may be controlled, e.g., by positioning a suitable element so as to reduce and/or eliminate a headspace size at a sample/gas interface. An interaction between the acoustic energy and the sample may be controlled, e.g., by using a headspace control element positioned at least partially in the sample that helps to reduce splashing or other sample ejection that would otherwise occur.

A nucleic acid amplification reaction vessel includes a first inner wall, and a second inner wall that is arranged opposite to the first inner wall, in which a distance between the first inner wall and the second inner wall is a length in which a nucleic acid amplification reaction solution comes into contact with both the first inner wall and the second inner wall when the nucleic acid amplification reaction solution is poured.

Flow control mechanisms control the direction and flow rate of synthesis reagent through one or more synthesis reaction vessels for automated solid phase synthesis. Selectable, known, and reproducible positive or negative pressure differentials (−5 to +10 psi) accomplish controlled, bidirectional (forward and reverse) flow of synthesis reagents through synthesis media contained within the reaction vessels. Venturi-based vacuum apparatus, valves, electronic pressure regulators and compound digital pressure gauge, can be added to automated solid phase synthesis instruments to provide, control, and monitor known, selectable, reproducible negative and positive pressures to one or both valve sealable and un-sealable ends (inlets and outlets) of the reaction vessel as needed to generate and reverse said pressure differentials between the opposite ends of said synthesis reaction vessels, yielding controlled forward and backward flows of synthesis reagents through the synthesis media.

The present invention generally relates to droplet libraries and to systems and methods for the formation of libraries of droplets. The present invention also relates to methods utilizing these droplet libraries in various biological, chemical, or diagnostic assays.

The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; and (b) sorting the genetic elements which express the gene product having the desired activity; wherein at least one step is under microfluidic control. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.

An example of a flow cell includes a substrate, a plurality of chambers defined on or in the substrate, and a plurality of depressions defined in the substrate and within a perimeter of each of the plurality of chambers. The depressions are separated by interstitial regions. Primers are attached within each of the plurality of depressions, and a capture site is located within each of the plurality of chambers.