HTGAA Class 9a: Laboratory Automation

​In this two-day lab, you'll program the Opentrons OT-2 pipetting robot to create stunning, glowing designs by depositing genetically engineered E. coli onto black agar plates. These bacteria express fluorescent proteins in vibrant colors, forming "bio-art" that comes to life under UV light. It’s your chance to turn cutting-edge biotech, with a peek into automation included, into a canvas for creativity, combining science, automation, and art into a single exciting project!

​This week, you will be working with the Opentrons OT-2, a liquid handling robot that’s used in various life-science laboratories on a variety of applications, and learn how to incorporate automation into synthetic biology research. This lab will require you to code a script to run on the Opentrons. You will also learn how to create agar plates, a basic tool in molecular and synthetic biology research. 

​Learn more from the makers themselves: Introducing the OT-2 Pipetting Robot

​Here's an excellent primer from Michael Raspuzzi on liquid handling robots: https://michaelraspuzzi.notion.site/lab-auto-primer-liquid-handling-4f4ab767022c4f92b5e6bd75cf3aae3e