DNA Construction Using DIVA (Design, Implementation, Validation Automation): Wet-Lab Workflows and Software Platform

Synthetic pathways have been increasingly used for microbial production of biofuels and chemicals. Here, we present DIVA (Design, Implementation, and Validation Automation), a web-based collaborative biological design and fabrication platform that increases research efficiency and productivity through enabling a division of labor (separation of design from fabrication tasks) and design aggregation to scales benefitting from laboratory automation devices. DIVA staff (responsible for DNA construction) use the DIVA web interface to evaluate submitted designs for feasibility, design assembly protocols using DNA assembly design automation software, and capture success and failure rates and pipeline performance metrics. With DNA construction occurring in a centralized location, DIVA staff can aggregate multiple independent construction tasks to scales that significantly benefit from laboratory automation, as well as leverage DNA synthesis, and high-throughput next-gen sequencing capabilities.