Chi.Bio: The Open-Source Robot Making Biology Labs Smarter
Revolutionizing experimental automation in biological science with an integrated, affordable platform
Automated Platform
All-in-One Solution
Open Source
Real-Time Data
Introduction: A New Dawn for Biological Discovery
Imagine a scientific instrument that never sleeps, tirelessly tending to delicate cell cultures through the night, making real-time decisions, and capturing data with unwavering precision. This is not a vision of the distant future; it is the reality brought to life by Chi.Bio, an open-source robotic platform that is revolutionizing experimental automation in biological science 1 2 .
Developed initially at the University of Oxford, this innovative system combines the capabilities of an entire suite of lab equipment into a single, integrated, and affordable platform 1 2 . For the first time, researchers can subject living cells to complex, dynamic experiments with a level of control and consistency previously out of reach, opening new frontiers in synthetic, systems, and evolutionary biology 6 .
Traditional Lab: Manual, time-consuming processes
Chi.Bio Lab: Automated, continuous experimentation
What is Chi.Bio? The All-in-One Lab Revolution
At its core, Chi.Bio is a parallelised open-source platform that offers a new paradigm for biological experiments. It addresses a fundamental challenge in studying living systems: the non-static nature of cell growth and the variability introduced by manual handling 6 .
The Frustration of Traditional Labs
In a conventional laboratory, a simple experiment involving growing bacteria and measuring their response to a chemical might require a scientist to constantly monitor the culture, manually add nutrients, take samples at specific times, and transport those samples to different machines like a spectrophotometer or a plate reader. This process is not only tedious but also prone to inconsistency. Each manual intervention can disturb the delicate culture, and the time lag between sampling and measurement can lead to inaccurate data 1 6 .
The Chi.Bio Solution: Integrated Automation
Chi.Bio elegantly solves these problems by combining heating, stirring, liquid handling, spectrometry, and optogenetics into one easy-to-use platform 1 . Its key innovation is the ability to perform all measurement and control actions on a bulk culture in situ, meaning without the need for manual sampling 6 . The platform's built-in turbidostat functionality can automatically add fresh media and remove waste to maintain cells in a state of exponential growth for days or even weeks, all while monitoring the culture in real-time 1 7 . This allows for unprecedented stability and control over the experimental environment.
Traditional vs. Chi.Bio Workflow Comparison
Traditional Workflow
Manual sampling → Transport to instruments → Delayed measurements → Inconsistent data
Chi.Bio Workflow
Continuous in-situ monitoring → Real-time data collection → Automated adjustments → Consistent, high-quality data
A Closer Look: A Key Optogenetics Experiment
To understand the power of Chi.Bio, let's examine a specific experiment that showcases its capabilities for automated optogenetic feedback control 7 .
The Goal: Precisely Regulate Protein Production
The objective was to use light to control the expression of a green fluorescent protein (GFP) in living cells and automatically adjust the light to make the cells produce a precise, user-defined amount of GFP over time.
The Step-by-Step Procedure
1. System Setup
Cells engineered with the CcaS-CcaR optogenetic system—a biological circuit where specific light wavelengths can turn gene expression on or off—were loaded into the Chi.Bio chamber. This system is often summarized as "red means stop, green means go" for gene expression 7 .
2. Continuous Culturing
The platform's turbidostat mode was activated, maintaining the culture at a constant optical density (a measure of cell concentration) to ensure the cells remained in a healthy, growing state.
3. Feedback Control
A PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) controller, a common control algorithm, was programmed into the Chi.Bio system. This controller continuously received data from the in-built spectrometer on the current level of GFP fluorescence in the culture.
4. Automated Actuation
The controller compared the real-time GFP measurement to the desired target level set by the researcher. If the fluorescence was too low, the system automatically adjusted the green LED light to increase gene expression. If it was too high, it reduced the light stimulation 7 .
The Groundbreaking Results and Their Meaning
The experiment was a resounding success. Chi.Bio demonstrated that it could dynamically regulate the optogenetic system, making the cells' fluorescent output closely follow a pre-programmed, complex profile 7 . This is a monumental achievement in synthetic biology. It moves beyond simple, static genetic modification to dynamic, closed-loop control of cellular processes. This capability is crucial for future applications where we might want cells to produce a therapeutic drug on demand or behave as living computers that can process information and respond predictably to their environment.
| Experimental Phase | Target Fluorescence | Achieved Fluorescence | Control Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Baseline | Low | Low | Minimal green light |
| Ramp-Up Phase | Gradually Increasing | Closely Followed Target | Gradual increase in green light intensity |
| High Plateau | High | Maintained at High Level | Sustained optimal light level |
| Ramp-Down Phase | Gradually Decreasing | Closely Followed Target | Gradual decrease in green light intensity |
Fluorescence Control Performance
The Scientist's Toolkit: Inside the Chi.Bio Platform
The success of experiments like the one described above is made possible by a suite of integrated hardware and software tools. Below is a breakdown of the key components that make up the Chi.Bio system.
| Tool/Component | Function | Role in Experiments |
|---|---|---|
| Turbidostat System | Automatically adds fresh media and removes culture to maintain constant cell density. | Keeps cells in exponential growth for extended periods, essential for evolution studies and consistent measurements 1 7 . |
| In-situ Spectrometer | Excites and measures the emission of multiple fluorescent proteins directly inside the culture chamber. | Provides real-time, minute-by-minute data on gene expression and protein production without manual sampling 1 6 . |
| Programmable LEDs | Emits tunable light of different wavelengths and intensities. | Enables optogenetic control (activating light-sensitive genes) and can be used for stress tests (e.g., with UV light) 1 7 . |
| Heating & Stirring | Maintains optimal temperature and ensures a homogenous culture. | Provides a stable and consistent environment for cell growth, mimicking standard laboratory incubators 1 . |
| Python-based OS | Allows for custom programming and automation of complex protocols. | Lets researchers implement feedback control, create dynamic stimuli, and run experiments for weeks without intervention 1 . |
System Capabilities
Key Benefits
- Reduced Manual Intervention 95% less
- Data Consistency High
- Experimental Complexity Advanced
- Cost Efficiency 80% savings
Beyond One Experiment: The Broad Impact of Chi.Bio
The platform's versatility extends far beyond optogenetics. Researchers are using Chi.Bio for a wide array of applications, pushing the boundaries of biological science:
Characterizing Biological Systems
By using multiple orthogonal fluorescent proteins, scientists can probe complex cellular behaviors with high accuracy 1 .
Long-Term Evolution Experiments
The platform can automate laboratory evolution by subjecting populations to temporal chemical gradients or other stressors over hundreds of generations 1 .
Precise Growth Analysis
Instead of just maintaining density, Chi.Bio can be programmed to grow cultures in a "zig-zag" density pattern, allowing for highly precise measurement of how growth rates change in response to environmental insults 7 .
| Research Area | Chi.Bio Application | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Synthetic Biology | Feedback control of optogenetic circuits 7 . | Dynamic, predictable control of cellular processes for bioproduction. |
| Systems Biology | In-situ measurement of multiple fluorescent proteins 1 . | Accurate, real-time models of complex genetic networks. |
| Evolutionary Biology | Automated application of chemical gradients or UV stress 1 . | Study of evolutionary pathways in real-time over long periods. |
| Fundamental Microbiology | Growth curve analysis under different stirring speeds 7 . | Insights into how physical conditions affect microbial growth. |
Research Impact Distribution
Conclusion: Democratizing the Future of Biological Research
Chi.Bio represents more than just a piece of lab equipment; it is a transformative tool that is democratizing cutting-edge research. As an open-source platform, it drastically reduces equipment costs, making advanced experimental capabilities accessible to more labs and educational institutions 1 .
By liberating scientists from tedious manual tasks and enabling experiments of unprecedented complexity and duration, Chi.Bio is not just changing how we do biology—it is expanding what is possible to discover. Its development at the University of Oxford, driven by challenges faced in real research, underscores its practical value and positions it as a key player in shaping the automated, data-rich future of life sciences 2 4 .
Open Source
Accessible to all researchers
Automated
Runs experiments 24/7
Precise
High-quality, consistent data