Abstract
Microinjection is a widely used technique employed by biologists with applications in transgenesis, cryopreservation, mutagenesis, labeling/dye injection and in-vitro fertilization. However, microinjection is an extremely laborious manual procedure, which makes it a critical bottleneck in the field and thus ripe for automation. Here, we present a computer-guided robot that automates the targeted microinjection of Drosophila melanogaster and zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos, two important model organisms in biological research. The robot uses a series of cameras to image an agar plate containing embryos at multiple magnifications and perspectives. This imaging is combined with machine learning and computer vision algorithms to pinpoint a location on the embryo for targeted microinjection with microscale precision. We demonstrate the utility of this microinjection robot to successfully microinject Drosophila melanogaster and zebrafish embryos. Results obtained indicate that the robotic microinjection approach can significantly increase the throughput of microinjection as compared to manual microinjection while maintaining survival rates comparable to human operators. In the future, this robotic platform can be used to perform high throughput microinjection experiments and can be extended to automatically microinject a host of organisms such as roundworms (Caenorhabditis elegans), mosquito (Culicidae) embryos, sea urchins (Echinoidea) and frog (Xenopus) oocytes.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Title of host publication | 43rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC 2021 |
Publisher | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. |
Pages | 4844-4850 |
Number of pages | 7 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781728111797 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2021 |
Event | 43rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC 2021 - Virtual, Online, Mexico Duration: Nov 1 2021 → Nov 5 2021 |
Publication series
Name | Proceedings of the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBS |
---|---|
ISSN (Print) | 1557-170X |
Conference
Conference | 43rd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC 2021 |
---|---|
Country/Territory | Mexico |
City | Virtual, Online |
Period | 11/1/21 → 11/5/21 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2021 IEEE.
Keywords
- biorobotics
- computer vision
- machine learning
- microinjection
- transgenesis