PlasmidStudio

PlasmidStudio is an AI-assisted DNA construct design tool aimed at researchers, biotech teams, and students. Users describe a plasmid construct in plain English through a conversational interface, and the tool generates annotated, validated plasmid maps. It is currently in early access, with pricing starting at $15/month and free access available for students with a verified academic email.

The platform covers the full design-to-export workflow, from importing existing sequences and selecting a cloning strategy through to exporting files compatible with synthesis vendors and downstream tools.

Core Design Features

• Conversational AI interface accepts plain-English descriptions to generate annotated plasmid maps, including construct size, feature positions, and element details such as promoters, coding sequences, tags, and resistance markers.
• The AI can modify existing designs mid-conversation — for example, adding a 6xHis tag at a specified position — and flags potential issues such as restriction sites within a coding sequence.
• Design Health Panel runs 14 automated checks covering missing terminators, frameshift errors, and incompatible origins of replication, with one-click fixes for each flagged issue.
• Cloning Strategy Advisor analyzes a construct and recommends an appropriate cloning method: Restriction Enzyme, Gibson Assembly, Golden Gate, or Gateway Cloning.
• Codon Optimization supports E. coli, HEK293, CHO, yeast, and insect cell expression systems, with CAI scoring and guaranteed amino acid sequence preservation.
• Sequence Verification allows import of Sanger or nanopore sequencing results, aligning them against the designed construct and highlighting mismatches on the plasmid map.
• AI Lab Protocols generates step-by-step wet lab protocols from a construct design, including materials, procedure, primer sequences, and a verification strategy, exportable as PDF.
• 20 curated starter templates cover mammalian expression, bacterial, CRISPR/Cas9, lentiviral, yeast, and Gateway backbones, each modifiable via the AI interface.

Free Standalone Tools

• Primer Tm Calculator: Uses nearest-neighbor thermodynamics with polymerase presets, hairpin and dimer analysis, and construct-aware primer region identification. Available without sign-up.
• Restriction Enzyme Calculator: Identifies compatible enzyme pairs for directional cloning, simulates gel patterns, and checks methylation sensitivity across two input sequences. Available without sign-up.

Import, Design, and Export Compatibility

• Import formats: GenBank (.gb, .gbk), FASTA, SnapGene (.dna), and direct Addgene search and import from a repository of over 170,000 plasmids.
• Supported cloning methods: Restriction Enzyme, Gibson Assembly, Golden Gate Assembly, and Gateway Cloning.
• Export formats: GenBank, FASTA, SnapGene (.dna), SBOL v3, PDF maps, and direct export to IDT, Twist, and GenScript synthesis platforms.

Pricing Tiers

1. Free: 10 AI requests per day, no credit card required.
2. Student: Free with a verified academic email; 50 AI requests per day.
3. Standard: From $15/month; 200 AI requests per day.
4. Pro: Pricing to be determined; 500 AI requests per day.

Data Security

• Data is encrypted in transit and at rest.
• AI requests are processed via an API proxy and are not used to train models; providers may briefly retain requests for abuse monitoring purposes only.
• Constructs are stored in a secure cloud database accessible across sessions, and users can delete their constructs at any time.

PlasmidStudio is under active development, with the team soliciting user feedback on missing cloning methods, file formats, and other feature requests. The platform is cloud-based and does not require local installation.