🧩 3.3 Liquid Handlers#
🔰 Tutorial#
Welcome to the fascinating world of automated liquid handling! 🌊 In this module, you’ll learn how to perform liquid transfers between containers using two cutting-edge systems: the Science Jubilee and the Opentrons OT-2.
The Liquid Handling Superstars 🌟#
Science Jubilee 🔬 Imagine a Swiss Army knife for scientists - that’s Science Jubilee! It’s a versatile, open-source platform that can handle various lab tasks, including precise liquid transfers.
Fun fact: Science Jubilee is like a scientific chameleon, adapting to different research needs! 🦎
Opentrons OT-2 🤖 Meet the friendly neighborhood robot scientist! The OT-2 is a popular, user-friendly liquid handling robot that’s making waves in labs worldwide.
Did you know? The OT-2 can pipette volumes as small as 1 microliter - that’s about the size of a grain of salt! 🧂
Why Automated Liquid Handling Rocks! 🎸#
Precision 🎯 These robots can measure and dispense liquids with incredible accuracy, reducing human error.
Consistency 🔄 They perform the same task identically every time, ensuring reproducible results.
Efficiency ⏱️ They can work 24/7 without getting tired, speeding up experiments.
Safety 🛡️ They can handle hazardous materials, keeping human researchers safe.
Real-World Applications 🌍#
Drug Discovery 💊 Automated liquid handlers are crucial in high-throughput screening of potential drug compounds.
Genomics Research 🧬 They’re indispensable for tasks like DNA extraction and PCR setup.
Diagnostic Testing 🩺 Many COVID-19 tests were processed using automated liquid handling systems.
Food and Beverage Industry 🍷 They’re used for quality control testing in beverage production.
Science Jubilee#
Science Jubilee is an extension to Jubilee, an open-source multi-tool motion platform. While Jubilee was originally designed as a versatile 3D printer capable of automatically swapping custom tools, Science Jubilee adapts this technology for scientific experiments.
The Science Jubilee system is particularly valuable in research settings where flexibility and customization are key. It allows researchers to automate various laboratory tasks beyond just liquid handling, making it a versatile tool for interdisciplinary research.
Cool Features 😎#
Tool Swapping 🔄: Can switch between pipettes, cameras, and other tools automatically.
Custom Tools 🛠️: Researchers can design and 3D print new tools for specific experiments.
Open Source 📖: The design is freely available, allowing for customization and improvement by the scientific community.
Bill of Materials#
Based on https://science-jubilee.readthedocs.io/
Other tools listed at Building Science Jubilee Tools may be of interest.
The modular nature of Science Jubilee allows researchers to add or modify tools based on their specific experimental needs. This flexibility is particularly useful in labs conducting diverse types of experiments or developing new methodologies.
Demo#
Read the original Jubilee manuscript
Read the Science Jubilee-enabled CdSe nanocrystal synthesis paper
✅ Read the color-matching tutorial: Rob Ross – Discovering Colors Through Happy Little Accidents
✅ Review the Machine Intro Getting Started guide
✅ Read the color-matching setup getting started guide
✅ Review jubilee_protocols.py
✅ Browse the Science Jubilee API
Opentrons OT-2#
The Opentrons OT-2 is a popular, commercially available liquid handling robot widely used in academic and industrial laboratories. It’s known for its user-friendly interface and open-source software, making it accessible to researchers with varying levels of programming experience.
If you’re unfamiliar with Opentrons, watch OT-2 Liquid Handling Robot Features - Automated Pipetting
The OT-2 is commonly used in molecular biology labs for tasks such as PCR setup, DNA extraction, and high-throughput screening. Its ability to handle small volumes with high precision makes it invaluable in genomics and proteomics research.
Awesome Abilities 💪#
User-Friendly 😊: Easy to program, even for those new to coding.
Precise Pipetting 🎯: Can handle volumes from 1 µL to 300 µL with high accuracy.
Modular Design 🧩: Can be customized with different pipettes and labware.
✅ Read the Introduction to Opentrons Python API, paying attention to the OT-2 minimal working example near the end.
Serial dilution is a fundamental technique in many biological and chemical experiments. This tutorial demonstrates how the OT-2 can automate this process, ensuring consistency and reducing human error in tasks like drug screening or microbial growth studies.
✅ Read the Serial Dilution Tutorial
✅ Read Additional Examples
These examples showcase the versatility of the OT-2 in various laboratory scenarios, from basic liquid transfers to more complex experimental setups.
✅ Optionally, refer to the Opentrons OT-2 User Manual
The user manual provides detailed information on the hardware components, maintenance procedures, and safety considerations for the OT-2. Familiarity with these aspects is important for ensuring the longevity and proper functioning of the device.
Expanding Horizons 🚀#
Once you master these liquid handling systems, you can:
🧪 Design complex, multi-step experiments that would be tedious to do by hand.
🔬 Increase the throughput of your research, potentially leading to faster discoveries.
🤖 Combine liquid handling with other automated systems for fully automated workflows.