The network
Laboratories inthree cities.
Each cell line is banked in one laboratory and mirrored in another, so that no single fire, flood or power failure can end it.
- Abu Dhabi – Headquarters and laboratory
- Bahrain – Laboratory, ≈ 450 km
- California – Laboratory, ≈ 13,000 km west
- Doha · Riyadh – Opening next
i.
The network
Abu Dhabi is the primary vault for most lines banked in the Gulf; Bahrain holds their mirror. California serves clients outside the region and mirrors selected lines across continents. Doha and Riyadh open next.
ii.
Each city
Headquarters
Abu Dhabi
- Role
- Laboratory and primary vault
- Coordinates
- 24.4539° N, 54.3773° E
- Temperature
- −196 °C
Laboratory
Bahrain
- Role
- Mirror vault
- Coordinates
- 26.2285° N, 50.5860° E
- Distance
- ≈ 450 km
Laboratory
California
- Role
- Laboratory and vault
- Region
- California, USA
- Distance
- ≈ 13,000 km
QatarOpening next
Doha
- Role
- Vault
- Status
- Opening next
Saudi ArabiaOpening next
Riyadh
- Role
- Vault
- Status
- Opening next
Read more about Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and California, and about Doha and Riyadh, which are in preparation.
iii.
The storage protocol
- LN₂ vapour
- Vials are held in the vapour phase above liquid nitrogen, which avoids cross-contamination through the liquid.
- −196 °C
- The temperature of liquid nitrogen. Below about −135 °C cell chemistry effectively stops.
- Two-site mirroring
- Half of every deposit is held in a second city. Each site can rebuild the line alone.
- Monitoring
- Temperature and nitrogen level are logged continuously, with alarms to staff on call day and night.
- Access
- Tanks are in locked rooms. Every opening is logged by person, time and position.
iv.
Questions
- What happens during a power cut?
- Liquid nitrogen tanks need no electricity to stay cold. Monitoring runs on backup power, and tanks hold temperature for days between fills.
- Can I choose where my line is stored?
- Yes. Abu Dhabi and Bahrain are the default pair for the Gulf; you may request California as the mirror.
- Can I visit the vault?
- Clients can visit the Abu Dhabi laboratory by appointment.
- What if a vault closes?
- The line passes to a named successor custodian with 90 days' notice, as set out on Trust and custody.