A biomechatronic fluid sample handling system for DNA processing

Summary form only given. An automated biomechatronic small fluid sample preparation system for DNA processing has been developed in the Genomation Laboratory at Department of Electrical Engineering of the University of Washington. The system automates steps necessary to prepare DNA for sequencing using sample volumes ten times smaller than the current state of the art manual and automated instrumentation. This will significantly reduce the time and cost of DNA sequencing and will help the Human Genome Project meet its goal of determining all three billion bases of human DNA sequence by the year 2005. The biomechatronic system comprising electromagnetic actuators, piezoceramic actuators, pneumatic pumps, linear mechanisms, thermal controllers, optical sensors, electronics, computer control and software is described in detail. Successful experimental results including restriction enzyme digests and polymerase chain reactions performed with this novel system are presented.