A USER-FRIENDLY OPERATING ENVIRONMENT FOR AN AUTOMATIC LIFE-SCIENCE LABORATORY REAGENT MANIPULATING SYSTEM

This paper describes a user-friendly operating environment for an automatic reagent manipulating system (ARMS) which was specially designed to implement the Sanger chain terminator reactions - a step in the process of DNA sequencing. The ARMS device can measure, dispense and mix microlitre volumes of liquid reagents for reaction at controlled temperatures in the clinical and life science laboratories. Automatic liquid-handling devices in the life science laboratory are currently limited in their application because of their less flexible software. Users require an easy and accurate handling environment to perform individually designed procedures with their existing equipment. The ARMS machine was devised to carry out the Sanger chain terminator reactions. This user-friendly operating software environment can be employed to enable ARMS to automate other aspects of DNA sequencing and human genome analysis.