As novel the aims of the researchers and beautiful the products of genetic engineering might be, the molecular cloning procedures are long-drawn and frustratingly boring. While more than 600 restriction enzymes (called molecular scissors since they cut DNA at specific sites) are commercially available to cut genes from different sources at different sites, each combination of restriction enzymes requires a different buffer composition. Meanwhile, codon optimization is a task that researchers must perform while keeping in mind the gene source and the protocol. In the end, if the target gene or genes don’t get expressed, it is usually very difficult for most labs to figure out what went wrong. Available bioinformatics tools are complex and not very user-friendly.

When a student’s supervisor at University College London, or UCL, told him about these problems faced by a genetic engineer, it formed the basis of an iGEM-E (entrepreneurial wing of the iGEM competition) entry. The team has since grown into Morph Bioinformatics, a startup that has built a smartphone app that enables researchers to design cloning experiments on their mobile devices.

Codon Usage Optimizer

The CUO app was developed for the Algae Department at UCL, but can be easily adopted for any host organism. Since CUO is based on specific algorithms written for algal cells, its performance was found to be better than the existing tools. The idea was to make a science as a service business. Making it open source would attract users and developers, while special features like customized solutions on request were added to bring in early revenue. But the team realized that the standalone product was not enough to build a sustainable business. Thus, they came up with Lab Officer.

The app allows scientists to view sequence and structure files in popular database formats, edit or annotate them, align sequences, predict restriction digestion bands, check for optimum buffers, and more. It is a mobile workbench to perform in-silico genetic engineering. Dropbox integration and the option to share sequences via email makes life easier for researchers. Unlike in CUO, Lab Officer doesn’t give better results than desktop-based tools. It just makes visualizing and editing sequences a lot easier to do. The company will be soon releasing an upgrade with special features and developing for other popular operating platforms (as of now, its available only for iOS) as well. In the meantime, they drifted a bit into automation.

Image source: Morph Bioinformatics.

Automating genetic engineering

The company’s next product is Cyclone, a tool for automation of cloning procedures. A user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop features allows bioscientists to design their desired construct. The user is provided with suggestions on the protocol as per his preferences. The user can then perform the experiment in his lab or have the robots take care of the boring stuff. The time wasted on pipetting and waiting for cells to grow could be invested in doing the actual science that is designing experiments and analyzing the results. The data obtained is linked to a social database where the users can look what other users are doing, collaborate, and help speed up discoveries in biotech. Other than the speed, automation has major advantages such as real-time monitoring, control and manipulation, and proper documentation of the data generated.

Since the potential of Cyclone is much larger than the capabilities of a student start-up, Morph Bioinformatics is now looking for collaboration with companies involved in automation. They’d be providing the inputs and the software, while the automation company would take care of the bulkier task of cloning. With this realization, Morph Bioinformatics is back to focusing on developing their service stream.

Genome Compiler has a similar genetic design platform that can be used to design constructs on computers (and not mobile devices). In silico experiments can be performed either offline or over the cloud. DNA2.0 also provides an array of tools such as Gene Designer, Plasmid Mapper, and Library Designer. Together, these companies and their peers are pushing the frontiers of synthetic biology by enabling next generation sequencing, or NGS, and synthesis methodologies. Morph Bioinformatics, as well, has plans to jump into NGS.

Opening up a bit

The user-friendly interface of Morph Bioinformatics’ products could make them popular among DIY biologists as well. Acknowledging the need of open source in biotech, cooperation with the iGEM, and the DIY biology communities is high on Morph Bioinformatics’ agenda. “Open source is essential for biotech to take the next step. It engages the society and shows them the potential of the diverse biotech industry”, Freedanz Ferdinanz, CEO of Morph Bioinformatics, told SynBioBeta. “Also, researchers can collaborate much better which would lead to more fascinating discoveries.”

Importantly, the company (and field at large) won’t be limited to academia or industry partnerships alone. Open source offers an intriguing opportunity for biotech companies. Open software can take care of the designing, automated platforms can take care of the cloning and give openly accessible results. Morph Bioinformatics -- sponsored by UCL, UK Trade and Investment, and UK Bioindustry Association -- and others are determining the course of the field. How far can they take it?