THE automation and miniaturisation techniques that have transformed genetics research are now being used to speed up work on stem cells.
Stem cells can be used “as is” for treating some conditions. But for many therapies they first need to be turned into specialised cells such as skin cells. To find the best ways of achieving this, a team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed a robotic system that can place up to 1700 separate samples of stem cells on a single glass slide measuring 2.5 by 7.5 centimetres. Each colony can be grown on a different material deposited on the array, allowing researchers to identify which is best for…
