Aspects of the invention relate to liquid transfer systems including a pipette tip having a body defining an inner volume and having first and second ends, the first end arranged to transfer a volume of liquid into and out of the pipette tip and the second end arranged for attachment to a pipette, and a bladder sealingly attached to the body. In some embodiments, the bladder is disposable in the inner volume. The bladder may be defined by a membranous sac and/or a planar membrane. The bladder may be moveable in response to an applied pressure to transfer liquid. The bladder also may be stretchable to accommodate a volume of fluid. In some embodiments, the pipette tip is used in a cell culture incubator, with a manipulator including a pipette that is in fluid communication with the pipette tip.

A technique for learning and steering evolutionary dynamics may include initializing a bioreactor including a population of evolving organisms; determining selection pressures; (a) applying the selection pressures to the population; (b) determining the population state and storing it in a population dataset; (c) detecting whether the population has reached a stable state; (d) if the population has reached the stable state: obtaining data representing the stable state, redetermining the selection pressures based on a selection pressure policy, and storing the data and the redetermined selection pressures in a stable state dataset; (e) determining whether one or more stopping criteria have been met; and repeating steps (a)-(e) until at least one of the stopping criteria is met.

The disclosure provides systems and methods for producing a cannabinoid product, which comprises contacting a cannabinoid precursor in a first phase with a cannabinoid synthase in a second phase, wherein the first phase and the second phase are substantially immiscible or immiscible. The disclosure also provides a composition comprising the cannabinoid precursor in a first phase and a cannabinoid synthase in a second phase, wherein the first phase and the second phase are substantially immiscible or immiscible.

An example method for measuring deformability of a cell responsive to a pressure wave, consistent with the present disclosure, includes moving a cell of a sample into a cell probing chamber of a microfluidic device. While the cell is in the cell probing chamber, the method includes generating a pressure wave within the cell probing chamber by actuating a fluidic pump. The method further includes determining a deformability of the cell responsive to the pressure wave, using an imaging array synchronized with the actuation of the fluidic pump.

Provided herein are filter cake-based systems and methods for cultivating cells and cell biomass therefrom. Provided herein is a system for cultivating cells and cell biomass comprising a filter chamber comprising at least one inlet and at least one outlet, at least one filter support located within the filter chamber, and a filter cake located on the filter support, wherein the filter cake comprises at least one filter aid and a plurality of cells. Provided herein is a method for optimizing the cultivation of cells and cell biomass, comprising providing a filter support, adding at least one filter aid to the filter support, adding a plurality of cells to the filter aid, wherein the cells and the filter aid together comprise a filter cake, growing the cells into a cell biomass in the filter cake, wherein the filter cake is at least partially compressible.

A system includes a photobioreactor that provides a channel configured to contain an algae slurry, a duct positioned adjacent the channel and configured to convey a gas, and a barrier separating the duct from the channel and providing one or more apertures to allow a portion of the gas to be injected into the algae slurry from the duct.

Example monitoring devices, systems and methods for use are provided. The devices can comprise one or more paths. In an embodiment, a first fluid path is connected to a sensor manifold, the sensor manifold comprising sensors for sensing characteristics of a fluid and a second fluid path connected to a second sensor component, the second sensor component comprising density sensor for sensing the density of the fluid.

The present disclosure provides a cartridge and method to move fluids within the cartridge that simplifies the design and removes the need for any internal valves or metering devices. The design is amenable to injection molded manufacturing lowering cost for large volume manufacturing. The design can be adapted to carry out both sample preparation and detection of biological substances including nucleic acids and proteins.

A method and apparatus for incubating sperm, eggs, and/or embryos for in vitro fertilization placing at least one of sperm, eggs, and embryos in at least one cell culture vessel in an incubator chamber having windows with filters to filter out ultraviolet light, wherein interior surfaces of the chamber comprises material that prevents the growth of fungus, and wherein the chamber includes sensors for regulating the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen in the chamber, transporting the at least one cell culture vessel from a storage location in the chamber to an imager at an imaging location in the chamber using an elevator; and repeatedly imaging at least one of the sperm, eggs, and the embryos in the imager while maintaining the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen throughout the chamber.

Methods of decellularization of tissue, such as mammalian tissue, are provided, along with methods of making an extracellular matrix (ECM) preparation. Systems and apparatus useful in performing the methods are also provided.