APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR ISOLATING SPECIFIC PHYSICAL ITEMS WITHIN A SET OF PHYSICAL ITEMS

摘要

Embodiments described herein provide an improved process for enriching, identifying, searching, separating and/or isolating target cells within a sample cell mixture using iterative enrichment or progression of the target cell, as well as some related methods and apparatuses. Two embodiments are microfluidic devices with multiple chambers into which a populations of cells are iteratively divided until a cell producing a target molecule is identified. Another embodiment is a faster and more broadly applicable process for the isolation of molecule producing cells comprising a series of laboratory methods for iterative enrichment. Some embodiments are directed to the process of directed evolution of cells secreting a target molecule. Another embodiment comprises a process for fast the identification of chemicals with specific properties through testing of combinations of items.