# Shanghai Jiao Tong Researchers Build AI Lab for DNA Experiments By Simon Yoon Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/51322 Published: 2026-11-08T03:29:40.000Z Updated: 2026-11-08T03:29:40.000Z Section: Technology > AutoDNA uses AI agents and robotic arms to run DNA workflows across more than 20 types of equipment. People replenish reagents and service the hardware. Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University built AutoDNA, an AI-directed laboratory that turns a typed prompt into DNA experiments, linking robotic sample handling with more than 20 types of lab equipment. A team of AI agents plans and carries out the work. Robotic arms move samples between instruments, while people replenish reagents and service the hardware. A project can involve thousands of operations, including DNA synthesis and sequencing. The researchers evaluated AutoDNA across four applications. In enzymatic DNA synthesis, its yields matched levels optimized by experts. It also ran concurrent protocols, completed a DNA data-storage cycle that recovered the original digital content exactly, and identified and validated KRAS G13D, a cancer mutation detected in clinical testing. Haibo Chen, a computer scientist at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and a co-author of the paper, said many automated systems still require human experts to configure instruments. “AI is mostly added to handle just one part of the process,” he said. AutoDNA was designed around AI from the beginning, rather than adding AI to an existing laboratory workflow. Its tests covered both handling physical samples and completing multi-step work that includes DNA synthesis, sequencing and data recovery. A related U.S. effort is Opentrons Labworks’ [AI lab automation work](). Its Flex platform combines robotics and AI to design, conduct and refine experiments. ## Links in this article - [AI lab automation work](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/business/43990)