skills/ginkgo-cloud-lab/SKILL.md
Ginkgo Cloud Lab (https://cloud.ginkgo.bio) provides remote access to Ginkgo Bioworks' autonomous lab infrastructure. Protocols are executed on Reconfigurable Automation Carts (RACs) -- modular units with robotic arms, maglev sample transport, and industrial-grade software spanning 70+ instruments.
The platform also includes EstiMate, an AI agent that accepts human-language protocol descriptions and returns feasibility assessments and pricing for custom workflows beyond the listed protocols.
The catalog is organized into Expression & Purification (in vitro / cell-free / E. coli / Pichia), Characterization & Assay, Method & Target Onboarding, and Specialty. Pick a protocol below, then read its reference file for inputs, outputs, the automated workflow, and ordering details.
| Protocol | Readout | Price | Turnaround | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IVT mRNA/circRNA Synthesis | qPCR (mRNA or circRNA, 384-well) | $99/sample | up to 12 business days | Certified |
| Protocol | Readout | Price | Turnaround | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Validate sequence expression | Go/no-go titer + purity (up to 1800 bp) | $39/sample | up to 10 days | Certified |
| Optimize expression conditions | DoE across 24 conditions | $199/sample | up to 11 days | Certified |
| Express + quantify (HiBiT) | Luminescence, no purification | $39/sample | up to 11 days | Certified |
| Express + purify (A280) | Strep-tag, A280 yield | $149/sample | up to 11 days | Certified |
| Express + purify minibinder | Strep-tag, A280, LabChip | $149/sample | up to 11 days | Certified |
| Express + purify (A280 + LabChip) | Strep-tag, A280 + purity/size | $159/sample | up to 12 days | Certified |
| Protocol | Readout | Price | Turnaround | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express + quantify (HiBiT) | Luminescence (up to 384 constructs) | $79/sample | up to 3 weeks | Certified |
| Express + purify (A280) | His-tag, A280 yield | $199/sample | up to 3 weeks | Certified |
| Express + purify minibinder | His-tag, A280 yield | $199/sample | up to 3 weeks | Certified |
| Express + purify (A280 + LabChip) | His-tag, A280 + purity/size | $209/sample | up to 3 weeks | Certified |
| Protocol | Readout | Price | Turnaround | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express + quantify (LabChip) | Secreted protein, size/purity (up to 96) | $89/sample | up to 4 weeks | Certified (New) |
| Protocol | Readout | Price | Turnaround | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express + thermal shift | SYPRO Orange Tm (Tonset, TM1-3) | $159/sample | up to 12 days | Certified |
| Detect enzymatic products (Echo-MS) | Substrate/product by Echo-MS | $44/sample | up to 13 days | Beta |
| Protocol | Readout | Price | Turnaround | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onboard Echo-MS method | Calibration curve, LOD/LOQ | $799/molecule | up to 3 weeks | Certified |
| Onboard SPR target | Validated SPR capture method | $1,399/target | up to 4 weeks | Beta |
| Protocol | Readout | Price | Turnaround | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generate fluorescent pixel art | UV photo, 7-color E. coli palette | $25/plate | up to 7 days | Beta |
Coming soon: Protein Expression and Binding Affinity Characterization (express + purify, then screen binding affinity against a target).
For protocols not listed above, use the EstiMate chat (https://cloud.ginkgo.bio/estimate) to describe a custom protocol in plain language and receive a compatibility assessment and pricing.
Access Ginkgo Cloud Lab at https://cloud.ginkgo.bio. Account creation or institutional access may be required. Contact Ginkgo at [email protected] for access questions.