Ginkgo Bioworks Microbial Library
July 31, 2025Collection Website
Organizational structure
Industry
Collection Institution/Entity
Ginkgo Bioworks
Staff working with the Collection
200
Collection Contact
Jonathan Vadnal
Collection Email
Collection can be contacted
Yes
- Has continued institutional support
- Interested in Culture Collections Exchange
- Interested in working with samples from different repositories
- Interested in Collaborative Programs
- Ability to accept orphan collections
- Collection contains sequencing data
- Collection contains reference strains
Collection Category
Research collection (industry or research collection; does not include a plan to distribute strains)
Capacity to accept orphan collections
The Biostore at Ginkgo Bioworks is a state-of-the-art, automated microbial storage system located at the West Sacramento facility. Its primary purpose is to serve as the main repository for the company’s extensive strain collection, supporting both research and archival needs. The Biostore is equipped with an Azenta (formerly Brooks) BioStore II Twinbank, an automated ultra-low temperature freezer maintained at -80°C. This system is designed for automated storage, retrieval, and inventory management of microbial strains. The automation provides high sample integrity and secure, audit-trailed access, ensuring that strains are curated efficiently and retrievable on demand. The Biostore is fully integrated with the company’s Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), providing a complete digital audit trail for every strain and high confidence in physical sample location and status. The current configuration of the Biostore allows for storage of up to 1.2 million individual samples. These can be stored in a variety of tube sizes, from 0.3 μL 2D barcoded tubes up to 1.8 mL cryovials. While the Biostore is primarily configured for tube-based storage, additional engineering could allow storage of other formats, such as microtiter plates, though this is not implemented in the present configuration. The storage environment is highly controlled: all freezers are equipped with CO2 backup, environmental monitoring, and building management system (BMS) integration. Access is restricted to trained personnel to ensure biosafety and sample security. Samples are managed using 2D barcoded tubes for precise tracking and to minimize handling errors. The Biostore supports efficient and immediate access to strains, as well as automated curation and replenishment of working stocks.
Collection follows best management practice guideline
Organisms in Collection
Fungi, Bacteria, Yeast
Sequencing data in collection
Draft genome quality assemblies and annotations
Training opportunities provided by Collection
Does not provide training
Funding Sources for Research performed with Collection specimens
Department of Energy (DOE), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Commercial entities
Availability and distribution mechanisms
Ginkgo Bioworks makes strains available to its clients according to mutually agreeable service agreements.
Services provided by Collection
Strain isolation/taxonomic identification, Contract screening
Consultations provided by Collection
Does not provide consultation
Genus in Collection
Host Associations in Collection
Grain crops, Fruits, Vegetables, Other Plants, Mammals, Other Animals
Research fields relevant to Collection
Agriculture, Cell biology, Fermentation, Food science, General microbiology, Industrial microbiology, Molecular biology, Plant pathology, Synthetic biology