Many iGEM-Teams and research groups around the world focus on biological detection, degradation or utilization of various substances. We aim for a device, which automatically mixes a cell culture with a second substance in specified proportions and record the response of the organism. This task is usually done by laboratory robots, which are far too expensive for a broad use. We are working on a lower priced solution using a simple modular concept.

A dosing system mixes droplets of the desired composition and injects them separated by a second phase (oil/air) in a circular tubing. The droplets circulate within the tubing driven by a peristaltic pump, each representing a single experiment. For each cycle the droplets pass sensor modules which record optical density, conductivity and oxygen consumption rate. Plotting these data over time for each droplet, we gain an insight in the organism’s response to the tested substance. In our project, we will use the device to investigate the response of our modified S. cerevisiae to NaCl.