Tinkering with biology is becoming a hobby for many much like what computing was for geeks in the 1980s. The Amino is a new biolab developed by the MIT Media Lab that allows just about anyone to grow a variety of cells in a controlled environment. The system is designed for ease of use while having the capabilities comparable to professional laboratory incubators.
To make things modular and easy, the team behind the project developed the idea of the Amino App, which combines living cells, DNA programs for the cells to run, and the growth liquid that spurs or retards growth. These Amino Apps can be created by the users by changing the input variables, while the system automates much of the process that still normally requires professionals and multiple devices.
Some details about the product and project:
For our first product, the Amino One, you get to choose between Amino Glow which glows like a night light and Amino Explorer which allows you to explore a variety of DNA programs, like optimizing the pathway for violacein production, an expensive anti-cancer, anti-parasitic research compound.
Amino is a general platform that allows you to buy different Amino Apps to grow and take care of different living systems in your Amino! This means that whatever Amino One unit you end up buying, you will be able to run different Amino Apps as we develop them. Apps will be priced between $150 and $400, depending on the DNA program and number of components. Amino also comes with an automated cleaning system to allow you to run a new app, and you will also be able to buy food refills to keep your apps growing longer and brighter!
Indiegogo campaign: Amino: Desktop Bioengineering for Everyone…