Bhubaneswar: The Capital city marked an important milestone in Indian science riday on the occasion of National Startup Day, with the launch of GelGenius, India’s first fully integrated agarose gel electrophoresis system, unveiled at department of Biotechnology (DBT)-Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) bioincubator.
The device was developed under the leadership of ILS scientist Amaresh Panda. Designed and manufactured in the city, GelGenius reflects the spirit of make-in-India and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in the life sciences sector.
An electrophoresis system is a lab setup using an electric current to separate molecules like DNA, RNA, or proteins in a gel (agarose/polyacrylamide) based on their size, shape, and electrical charge, moving them from a negative to a positive electrode.
Smaller, lighter molecules travel faster through the gel’s pores, creating distinct bands that reveal sample composition and are vital in diagnostics, forensics, and research.
Traditional electrophoresis requires multiple instruments and involves safety risks due to UV light.
GelGenius simplifies this process by combining agarose heating, gel casting, electrophoresis, visualisation, and documentation into a single compact unit.
“Our aim was to make molecular biology affordable and accessible for students and institutions with limited resources,” said Panda.
With GelGenius, students can learn DNA analysis without depending on expensive laboratory setups, he added. The system uses safe blue light technology instead of UV light, making it safer for users.
Its all-in-one design saves laboratory space and reduces equipment costs, especially for schools and colleges.
Calling it a proud achievement for Odisha, ILS director Debasis Dash said the innovation shows how indigenous technology can replace costly imported lab instruments.
With GelGenius, the startup aims to support hands-on learning and inspire the next generation of Indian scientists.