Open-source methods for DNA manipulation in a cloud lab

Automating biological research has the potential to improve reproducibility, throughput, and free-up scientist time to design rather than execute experiments. One avenue for scientists to leverage automation is through the use of cloud labs. However, there is no publicly available open source code to conduct basic life science workflows in cloud labs, and resources to learn the code are very limited, creating an enormous barrier to entry to cloud science. Here we present the first ever set of validated, open source protocols for cloud labs. We have developed a full pipeline for manipulating DNA on Emerald Cloud Lab’s platform, including onboarding samples, conducting PCR and Golden Gate reactions, and assessing the quality of samples with purification and gel electrophoresis. Each script is open source and available on GitHub, and we also provide instructions and screencast videos for future users. This work represents a necessary first step toward enabling cloud labs to mature into a widely accessible tool for life sciences