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Objective Biotechnology Launches First-Ever Automated Microinjection Robot for Genetic Research

Objective Biotechnology Launches First-Ever Automated Microinjection Robot for Genetic Research

Business Wire4 days ago

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Objective Biotechnology, a pioneer in next-generation research tools, today announced the commercial launch of the Autoinjector, the first fully automated robotic system for microinjection in genetic research. Developed in collaboration with the University of Minnesota, the system was validated in a GENETICS study showing its speed, accuracy, and broad utility across model organisms.
Microinjection is an essential but slow step in genetic research, traditionally requiring technicians to manually align and inject each embryo with precision. The Autoinjector transforms this process by combining computer vision and machine learning, delivering consistent, high-precision injections up to four times faster than manual methods—while reducing training time from months to weeks.
The Autoinjector also enables entirely new high-throughput experiments that aren't feasible by hand. In the study published in GENETICS, researchers used it to inject over 20,000 uniquely barcoded DNA plasmids into 1,700 Drosophila embryos in just two days—generating more than 400 unique transgenic lines and, for the first time, allowing scientists to measure how many independent germline integrations occurred per embryo. The study also demonstrated that the Autoinjector significantly improved vitrification rates and post-thaw survival of zebrafish, outperforming traditional manual injection.
'The system has already demonstrated success in gene editing and transgenesis experiments across both insect and vertebrate models at multiple early-access sites,' said James Grabau, CEO of Objective Biotechnology. 'The Autoinjector is designed to remove a stubborn and persistent bottleneck in the process of generating transgenic models in a variety of species and applications.'
'The Autoinjector comes pre-loaded with injection protocols for commonly used model organisms such as Drosophila and zebrafish, and it can be fully customized for emerging or non-model species,' said Daryl Gohl, Chief Scientific Officer of Objective Biotechnology. 'This flexibility makes the Autoinjector particularly valuable for labs working across multiple species, providing them with the ability to streamline both basic and applied genetic research.'
Objective Biotechnology is a leader in developing innovative solutions for genetic engineering and neurotechnology. Its mission is to accelerate discovery by equipping scientists with cutting-edge tools that simplify, scale, and expand what's possible in modern genetics and neuroscience.

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Science recap: This week's discoveries include the fossilized skull of a mysterious, prehistoric human species
Science recap: This week's discoveries include the fossilized skull of a mysterious, prehistoric human species

CNN

time11 hours ago

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Science recap: This week's discoveries include the fossilized skull of a mysterious, prehistoric human species

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As demonstrated in phantom testing. v Based on orders data of GE HealthCare PET/CT systems since 2010. vi Compared to NM/CT 870 DR. vii As compared to NM/CT 870 DR with Optima 540 CT. viii a ASiR-V reduces dose by 50% to 82% relative to FBP at the same image quality (Image quality as defined by low contrast detectability). viii b In clinical practice, the use of ASiR‐V may reduce CT patient dose depending on the clinical task, patient size, anatomical location, and clinical practice. A consultation with a radiologist and a physicist should be made to determine the appropriate dose to obtain diagnostic image quality for the particular clinical task. Low Contrast Detectability (LCD), Image Noise, Spatial Resolution and Artifact were assessed using reference factory protocols comparing ASiR‐V and FBP. The LCD was measured using 0.625 mm slices and tested for both head and body modes using the MITA CT IQ Phantom (CCT183, The Phantom Laboratory), using a model observer method.

Mysterious 'dragon man' skull found in the 1930s finally identified
Mysterious 'dragon man' skull found in the 1930s finally identified

Fox News

timea day ago

  • Fox News

Mysterious 'dragon man' skull found in the 1930s finally identified

A mysterious human skull found in the 1930s has been identified as an existing species after once being thought to be a new species all together, according to researchers. The studies — posted in the journals Cell and Science — have identified the 146,000-year-old skull known as "dragon man" has been categorized as a Denisovan. The researchers revealed that the Denisovans were discovered by their genomes and proteins to identify them. However, the reason it took so long to identify was that the attempts to extract DNA from a tooth failed. Researchers also tried extracting DNA from the Harbin cranium as well, which also failed. When those methods failed, researchers turned to using dental calculus, which uses calcified dental plaque. The calcified dental plaque could hold and protect DNA due to its dense crystalline structure that resists degradation in various environments. Researchers used bleach on the dental plaque in order to eliminate any possible modern-day DNA. Once extracted, researchers began to compare the genetic material discovered to previous samples. The researchers found that the "dragon man" was not a new species but was a Denisovan and the very first intact specimen to date. According to the researchers, Denisovans coexisted with modern-day humans and are closely related to Neanderthals. The "dragon man" was discovered in mysterious circumstances when a Chinese laborer working on a bridge over the Songhua River found it. The man kept the Harbin cranium well hidden as he was instructed to hide it from the Japanese army. The skull was donated shortly before his death in 2018, after which his family relocated the skull and gave it to the Geoscience Museum, Hebei GEO University professor Qiang Ji. While there are limitations to this study, the researchers said there is still so much to learn moving forward. It was called "dragon man" because it was found in the Heilongjiang province of China, which translates to Black Dragon River. Fox News Digital's Julia Musto contributed to this story.

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