b'PARTNER CONTENTThe Rise of Lab Robots: Faster, Smarter, Greener Disease TestingW hen someone steps into our disease lab at SGSHere is how it works and how it transforms soil and Canada, they know they are seeing technologytissue testing:that is at the forefront of something special. Yes, Efficiency and Precision: Instead of transferringthis is where we test for diseases, primarily fungalone sample at a time with a pipette, the QIAcube pathogens, but also some bacteria and protists, usingHT handles eight at once. It follows a programmed basic agar plating methods as well as DNA extractionsequence, adding reagents with pinpoint accuracy techniques.and reducing variability.But significant changes are underway in how we do it. Higher Capacity: The machine processes numerous By Annu Albert,For years, we relied on manual labour to extractsamples simultaneously, nearly doubling our previ-Plant PathologyDNAa tiring process that took a long time for us and,ous capacity. It still takes about two and a half hours and Molecularas a result, for customers. But then robotics changedto run a full batch, but the robot can handle double Biologyeverything. the number of samples in a single batch, when com-Technician, SGSLet me give you a glimpse of how we work and howpared to the manual extraction method. Plus, I dont Canada Croprobots are reshaping our approach. have to babysit it. After initial setup, Im free to focus Science on other tasks.The Old Way: Manual Labour with DNA ExtractionUser-Friendly Design: The software calculatesDNA extraction is a meticulous process where we breakeverything for uswhere reagents go, how much down cells to isolate DNA. Most of our work currentlyto add, and in what order. It is as simple as following focuses on soil samples, although we occasionallyon-screen instructions and letting the robot do the process tissues and seeds. The idea is to extract all therest.DNA present in the sample, including plant DNA andReduced Waste: By consolidating steps, the DNA from all the microorganisms present in the sampleQIAcube HT cuts our plastic usage by 60%. It is aboth the good and the badafter which we use spe- win for efficiency and sustainability.cific reagents to identify the specific pathogens we areOnce the DNA is extracted, the next step is amplifica-testing for, like Plasmodiophora brassicae, the pathogention using PCR (polymerase chain reaction). This process responsible for clubroot. multiplies the DNA to detectable levels, but it requires In the past, this was done entirely by hand. Weprecision in adding reagents. The same robotic princi-worked with small tubes, transferring chemicals step byples that transformed DNA extraction are applied here, step, using pipettes to add precise amounts of reagents.ensuring accuracy and minimizing human involvement in It was painstaking work. A single batch of samples tookrepetitive tasks.over two hours, and during busy seasons, we would do three or four batches a day. By the third batch,A Glimpse of the Futurefatigue set in. Was I at step three or step four? Did I addRobotics has not only improved our accuracy and the reagent already? These were common questions.throughput but also enhanced the way we work. The Mistakes were easy to make, and maintaining consist- time saved allows us to focus on data analysis and qual-ency in pipetting volumes became increasingly difficultity assurance rather than repetitive manual tasks. It is as exhaustion took its toll. exciting to think about where this technology could lead us next.The New Way: Enter Robotics and the QIAcube HT In a field where precision is paramount, robotics has Two years ago, we acquired the QIAcube HT, a roboticbecome our most valuable lab partner, redefining what DNA extraction system, and it revolutionized everything.is possible in disease testing. At SGS Canada, we are This machine mimics the manual process but eliminatesproving every day that innovation and automation are the physical strain and human error. the future of agriculture.JANUARY 2025 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA 25'