Biology as software
At bit.bio we look at a cell as if it were a computer. The nucleus is the hard drive, storing genes in its DNA. Genes interact with one another, forming programs called gene regulatory networks. Together, these programs form LifeOS, the Operating System of Life.
At any given time only a subset of the programs in LifeOS are switched on and active, defining the function and identity of every cell. Gene regulatory networks are tightly controlled by transcription factors, the code of LifeOS.
Our cell coding platform gives us the enter button of LifeOS. It consists of two core parts: our discovery platform which identifies the precise code that defines cell fate and our deterministic cell programming technology - opti-ox - that deterministically programs stem cells into any cell type.
Watch Founder Mark Kotter discussing this approach.
"A code script... must form the kernel of biological theory"
Sydney Brenner
opti-ox (optimised inducible overexpression) is our deterministic cell programming technology. It gives us the ability to faithfully execute genetic programs in human stem cells.
Transcription factors controlled by an inducible genetic switch are integrated into genomic safe harbour sites in the stem cell genome. Genomic safe harbour sites protect the integrity of the cell and the inserted program by avoiding gene silencing.
As every pluripotent stem cell in a population contains the same inducible program in their genomic safe harbour sites, we can precisely and consistently program the population into a chosen cell identity at a commercial scale.
Our discovery platform
Our discovery platform combines genetic screening, big data, machine learning and large scale experimentation to find the combination of transcription factor codes for every human cell type.
From the 20,000 genes in a human cell, our discovery platform uncovers the unique code to create any cell type.
10,000 of these genes are actively involved in determining the unique function of each specific cell.
Approximately 2,000 transcription factors control these genes.
Our discovery platform pinpoints between 1 and 6 transcription factors responsible for precisely defining the identity of each cell type, sub-cell type and cell state.