Using Kernel AI

Get AI assistance for genetic design tasks and navigation.

What is Kernel AI?

Kernel AI is an AI assistant that helps you:

• Navigate the Kernel interface

• Answer genetic design questions

• Find constructs and parts

• Explain biological concepts

• Assist with design decisions

Accessing Kernel AI

Sidebar

Click Kernel AI in the left sidebar to open the chat interface.

Kernel AI Interface

In-Editor

Click AI in the construct editor's right sidebar for context-aware assistance.

Keyboard Shortcut

Press Cmd/Ctrl + K to quickly access Kernel AI.

What You Can Ask

Navigation

Ask Kernel AI to help you find things:

• "Take me to my recent constructs"

• "Find all promoters in my workspace"

• "Show me the CMV constructs"

• "Open the shared parts repository"

Design Questions

Get help with genetic design:

• "What promoter should I use for high expression in CHO cells?"

• "Explain the difference between SV40 and BGH terminators"

• "How do I optimize this sequence for E. coli?"

• "What signal peptide works best for secretion?"

Construct Information

Ask about your designs:

• "What parts are in this construct?"

• "Show me the sequence of the heavy chain"

• "What's the GC content of this region?"

• "Are there any HindIII sites?"

Workflow Help

Get guidance on tasks:

• "How do I create a new construct?"

• "How do I share a repository?"

• "How do I run a simulation?"

• "How do I export as GenBank?"

Example Conversations

Finding Parts

You: Find all T7 promoters in my workspace

Kernel AI: I found 3 T7 promoter parts in your workspace:

1. T7-Promoter (in Team Parts)

2. T7-Strong-Promoter (in Expression Library)

3. T7-Lac-Promoter (in Inducible Parts)

Would you like me to open any of these?

Design Advice

You: What's the best way to express an antibody in HEK293?

Kernel AI: For antibody expression in HEK293 cells, I recommend:

• CMV or EF1α promoter for strong expression

• IgK or native signal peptide for secretion

• BGH poly(A) for 3' UTR

• Consider dual-plasmid system for HC + LC

Would you like me to help you set up a construct with these elements?

Navigation

You: Take me to the construct I was working on yesterday

Kernel AI: Based on your recent activity, you were working on:

• HC-Expression-v3 (modified 18 hours ago)

• LC-Optimized (modified 20 hours ago)

Which one would you like to open?

Tips for Effective Use

Be Specific

More specific questions get better answers:

• Instead of "help with my construct"

• Try "help me add a His-tag to the C-terminus of my protein"

Provide Context

Include relevant details:

• The construct you're working on

• Your expression system

• What you're trying to achieve

Ask Follow-ups

Continue the conversation:

• Ask for more details

• Request alternatives

• Get step-by-step guidance

Capabilities

What Kernel AI Can Do

• Search and navigate workspace content

• Explain genetic concepts

• Recommend parts and designs

• Guide you through workflows

• Answer questions about Kernel features

Limitations

• Cannot modify constructs directly (you make the changes)

• Answers based on general knowledge and your workspace

• Complex designs may need expert review

• Experimental predictions should be validated

Best Practices

Design Assistance

• Use AI for initial guidance

• Verify recommendations

• Consider multiple approaches

• Validate critical designs

Learning

• Ask "why" questions to learn

• Request explanations of concepts

• Explore alternatives

Next Steps

• Quick Start Guide — Get started with Kernel

• Creating Constructs — Design with AI help

• Part Library — Find parts AI recommends