In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method of producing a library of microorganisms, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a first fluid comprising at least one single cell, b. dispersing said first fluid comprising at least one single cell in a second fluid, thereby obtaining a plurality of single-layer microfluidic droplets, wherein at least one single- layer microfluidic droplet comprises at least one single cell, wherein the second fluid is immiscible with the first fluid, c. optionally, adding to said at least one single-layer microfluidic droplet a third fluid comprising a sensing compound, wherein the third fluid is miscible with said first fluid, and wherein the third fluid is immiscible with said second fluid, d. injecting said at least one single-layer microfluidic droplet optionally comprising the sensing compound into a fourth fluid, wherein said fourth fluid is immiscible with said second fluid, thereby obtaining at least one double-layer microfluidic droplet, e. dispensing said at least one double-layer microfluidic droplet into a culture medium based on the viability of the cell, f. incubating said culture medium, thereby obtaining said library. In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a system comprising: a. a first microfluidic chip for producing a plurality of single-layer microfluidic droplets wherein at least one single-layer microfluidic droplet comprises at least one single cell, b. a first microfluidic device for collecting said plurality of single-layer microfluidic droplets, c. a second device for adding a sensing compound into said at least one single-layer microfluidic droplet comprising at least one single cell, d. a second microfluidic chip for producing a double-layer microfluidic droplet, and e. a dispensing unit. In a third aspect, the present invention relates to the use of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention in a system according to the second aspect of the present invention.

A visual continuous spatial directed evolution method is disclosed. The host grows and moves in a solid culture space, the host carrying a foreign target gene to be evolved and containing a gene element that assists the evolution of the target gene, the target gene being correlated with the growth and movement of the host. Depending on different spatial distribution patterns formed in the solid culture space during the growth and movement of the host, screening is performed to obtain an evolved product. This method is carried out directly in the solid culture space. Depending on images of different spatial distribution morphologies visible to the naked eye that are locally formed, selection of evolved products is performed without the need for liquid fed-batch culture equipment. In addition, the evolution effect is visually observed through the infection spots formed during evolution, so that no real-time monitoring equipment is required.

A visual continuous spatial directed evolution method is disclosed. The host grows and moves in a solid culture space, the host carrying a foreign target gene to be evolved and containing a gene element that assists the evolution of the target gene, the target gene being correlated with the growth and movement of the host. Depending on different spatial distribution patterns formed in the solid culture space during the growth and movement of the host, screening is performed to obtain an evolved product. This method is carried out directly in the solid culture space. Depending on images of different spatial distribution morphologies visible to the naked eye that are locally formed, selection of evolved products is performed without the need for liquid fed-batch culture equipment. In addition, the evolution effect is visually observed through the infection spots formed during evolution, so that no real-time monitoring equipment is required.

The present disclosure provides systems, devices and methods for seeding cells or sets of molecules on a substrate by utilizing a seeding mesh, to obtain an essentially homogenous patterned seeding of the cells or sets of molecules on the mesh.

The present disclosure provides systems, devices and methods for seeding cells or sets of molecules on a substrate by utilizing a seeding mesh, to obtain an essentially homogenous patterned seeding of the cells or sets of molecules on the mesh.

Provided herein are systems and methods for nucleic acid sequencing by synthesis in a plurality of wells using detectably labeled chain terminating nucleotides with photolabile blocking groups and pulses of photocleaving light. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods provides a plurality of deblock-scan cycles comprising an initial deblock time period followed by a scanning light period, wherein at least one of the following occurs in each deblock-scan cycle: 1) the deblock time period is shorter than the scan time period; 2) the deblock time period is only long enough to deblock the photolabile groups that are part of a primer in less than all of the plurality of wells; or 3) the deblock time period is between 25 and 150 mSec and the scan time is at least 200 mSec. Such shorter deblock time periods help prevent the addition of more than one nucleotide to the primer prior to scanning (e.g., accuracy is enhanced).

The invention provides a method for preparing a compound or a product having one or more characteristics that meet or exceed a user specification, the process comprising the step of selecting a first combination of chemical inputs, optionally together with physical inputs, and supplying those inputs to a reaction space, thereby to generate a first product; analyzing one or more characteristics of the product generated; comparing the one or more characteristics against a user specification; using a genetic algorithm selecting a second combination of chemical inputs, optionally together with physical inputs, wherein the second combination differs from the first combination, and supplying those inputs to the reaction space, thereby to generate a second product; analyzing one or more characteristics of the second product generated; comparing the one or more characteristics generated against the user specification; repeating the selecting and analyzing steps for further individual combinations of chemical and/or physical inputs, to provide an array of products wherein the flow chemistry system operates continuously to provide the first, second and further products, thereby to identify one or more products meeting or exceeding the user specification.

The invention provides a method for preparing a compound or a product having one or more characteristics that meet or exceed a user specification, the process comprising the step of selecting a first combination of chemical inputs, optionally together with physical inputs, and supplying those inputs to a reaction space, thereby to generate a first product; analyzing one or more characteristics of the product generated; comparing the one or more characteristics against a user specification; using a genetic algorithm selecting a second combination of chemical inputs, optionally together with physical inputs, wherein the second combination differs from the first combination, and supplying those inputs to the reaction space, thereby to generate a second product; analyzing one or more characteristics of the second product generated; comparing the one or more characteristics generated against the user specification; repeating the selecting and analyzing steps for further individual combinations of chemical and/or physical inputs, to provide an array of products wherein the flow chemistry system operates continuously to provide the first, second and further products, thereby to identify one or more products meeting or exceeding the user specification.

The present invention relates to a method and device for manufacturing microarrays, wherein a microarray comprises a plurality of spots, for testing the interaction of biomolecules. Disclosed herein is a method for enhancing efficiency of overlay printing of spot positions on multiple slides or plates arranged in an array wherein a slide or plate order is provided by rows and columns.

The invention provides systems, methods, reagents, apparatuses, vectors, and host cells for the continuous evolution of nucleic acids. For example, a lagoon is provided in which a population of viral vectors comprising a gene of interest replicates in a stream of host cells, wherein the viral vectors lack a gene encoding a protein required for the generation of infectious viral particles, and wherein that gene is expressed in the host cells under the control of a conditional promoter, the activity of which depends on a function of the gene of interest to be evolved. Some aspects of this invention provide evolved products obtained from continuous evolution procedures described herein. Kits containing materials for continuous evolution are also provided.