Biological automation is the process of using machines to perform tasks that would otherwise require manual labor, such as pipetting, mixing, dispensing, and measuring. Biological automation can increase the speed, accuracy, and reproducibility of experiments, as well as reduce human error and contamination.
However, biological automation is not without its challenges. One of the biggest bottlenecks in biological automation is the preparation of samples for DNA sequencing, which involves extracting, purifying, amplifying, and fragmenting DNA from various sources. These steps are often tedious, time-consuming, and prone to variability.
Volta Labs is a startup company that aims to solve this problem by developing a new approach to biological automation. Volta Labs was founded in 2018 by Udayan Umapathi and Will Langford, who met at MIT and shared a vision of creating a universal machine that can automate most biological workflows in genomics, proteomics, and synthetic biology.
Volta Labs is based in Kendall Square, a hub of innovation and biotechnology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company leverages an anti-disciplinary approach that combines expertise in instrumentation, fluidics, software, biology, and chemistry. Volta Labs has invented and built novel fluidic and sample manipulation technologies that enable fast, simple, and robust sample preparation for DNA sequencing.
Volta Labs’ technology is based on the concept of digital microfluidics, which uses electric fields to manipulate tiny droplets of liquid on a printed circuit board. This allows for precise control of fluid volume, movement, mixing, and splitting without the need for pumps, valves, or tubes. Volta Labs has also developed proprietary methods for extracting and purifying DNA from various sample types using magnetic beads and electric fields.
Volta Labs’ platform can perform end-to-end sample preparation for DNA sequencing in less than an hour using minimal reagents and consumables. The platform can handle multiple samples in parallel and accommodate different protocols and applications. Volta Labs’ platform can also integrate with existing sequencing instruments and software to provide a seamless workflow.
Volta Labs’ mission is to democratize biological automation and enable researchers to focus on their scientific questions rather than their experimental procedures. Volta Labs believes that biological automation can accelerate scientific discovery and innovation in fields such as healthcare, agriculture, biotechnology, and environmental monitoring.
What are the applications and benefits of Volta Labs’ platform for genomics and genetic engineering?
Volta Labs’ platform for genomics and genetic engineering offers a wide range of applications and benefits. Firstly, it enables researchers and scientists to efficiently analyze and manipulate genetic data, accelerating the discovery of novel genes, pathways, and potential therapeutic targets. The platform provides powerful tools for genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation, facilitating genomic research in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology.
Additionally, Volta Labs’ platform supports genetic engineering by simplifying the design and optimization of gene editing experiments, which is crucial for applications like developing genetically modified organisms and gene therapies.
If you are interested in learning more about Volta Labs or joining its team, please visit their website.
Also Read: How Parrot Transforms The Court Reporting Industry With AI