DIY Lego Liquid-handling robot for gene synthesis
A University of Washington-based IGEM 2009 team (see project page) has created a Lego-based robot to assist gene synthesis researchers – for only $700 in parts, as opposed to the over $100k price tag of a commercial liquid handling robot (see for example Tecan’s Freedom EVO product).
This reminds me strongly of Jonathan Ward’s MTM A-Z personal fabrication machine, developed at the Center for Bits and Atoms at MIT. I bet Jonathan & co. could make a cheaper and more powerful machine for less… they should collaborate!
Read about a hard-working team which competed in iGEM’s 2009 event without access to a robot in a recent New York Times Magazine article.
