How to Create a Modular Construct

Create Modular Constructs by adding Biomodules to a template that you can quickly customise.

You create Constructs using templates that you fill with biomodules. Once you’ve created your construct you can duplicate it and make variants by quickly swapping one biomodule with another.

 

Step 1: Create a construct
Step 2: Edit template
Step 3: Add biomodules
Step 4: Invert placeholders

 

Before you begin:

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In order to create your Modular Construct you first need to have your biomodules ready to fill it.

You can use public biomodules or you can create your own. If you haven’t created your own biomodules yet, check out our User Guide on that before you begin.

Biomodule User Guide

 

 

 

Step 1: Create a new construct

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Navigate to your Constructs collection.

 

Choose Create New.

 

Choose to create a New Construct from Scratch

 

Give your construct a name and choose a starting template you would like to begin with. You can always edit or change this later.

 

 

 

Step 2: Edit your template to finalise your plasmid topology

 

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If you are happy with the starting template you created in step 1, you can skip to the next step.

Move to Construct Designer by clicking Construct Sequence button or a biomodule in the plasmid map.

 

In the top left hand corner of the construct designer, choose the edit template icon.

 

To customise your existing template, choose Unlock (1).To replace your existing template, choose Change template (2). 

 

If customising a template:

Click on the '+' icons to add a new placeholder and the '-' icons to remove them
Once you are satisfied with your template, choose lock.

 

If changing a template:

Scroll through the collection of ready-made templates.
Click choose to swap your existing template for a new one.

 

 

Step 3: Add Biomodules to Your Construct

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Now you’ve created the template of your construct you can start adding Biomodules to complete your design.

Navigate to the basic view of the construct designer.

Now on the plasmid map in the left side bar click the placeholder you would like to fill. The placeholder will turn green when selected.

Now you can see your collection of Biomodules on the right side of the screen. Use the advanced search feature to search and filter your biomodules.

Click Choose to add the respective Biomodule to the selected placeholder.

Rinse and Repeat for each placeholder in your template.

To remove and replace a Biomodule, click on the placeholder in the plasmid map on the left side bar. Then click the Remove button on the right of the screen. Now add your new biomodule as before.

 

 

Step 4: Invert placeholder and reverse biomodule orientation

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Now that you have added biomodules to your construct you can reverse the orientation of individual placeholders and their biomodules to change the read direction for those elements.

In the basic view of Construct Designer click on the placeholder that you would like to invert

 

Then move to advanced view for the detailed sequence editor. You will automatically navigate to the start of the placeholder you just clicked.

 

Right click on the blue bar above the sequence for the corresponding Biomodule. Choose reverse orientation in the pop up menu.

 

You’ve now inverted your placeholder and the orientation of the biomodule it contains. You can see the new orientation in basic view of the construct designer.