Gene bank

The Gene bank is used for storing Genepacks safely, and for providing genes to the Gene assembler.

Acquisition

Gene banks can be constructed once the Xenogenetics research project has been completed. They require 50 Steel, 1 Component, 5,000 ticks (1.39 mins) of work, and a Construction skill of 4.

Summary

The purpose of a gene bank is to store genepacks without them deteriorating, and to provide their contained genes to a gene assembler. Each gene bank can hold up to four genepacks. With each genepack having a maximum capacity of four genes, a single gene bank can provide a maximum of sixteen genes to a connected gene assembler. Up to 100 gene banks can be connected to a single gene assembler.

Gene banks always require 40 watts of power, regardless of the number of genepacks they contain. As long as a genebank is powered, any contained genepacks will not deteriorate, but will instead be repaired over time^[check]. If the gene bank loses power or is turned off, the contained genepacks will deteriorate normally. An empty gene bank can be safely powered down without ill effect.

Storage

The contents of a single gene bank can be viewed by selecting it, then opening the "Contents" tab on the inspection pane. In addition to viewing the contained genepacks, the contents pane allows you to control which genepacks are allowed to be stored. By default, the option "Allow all genepacks" is enabled, which means that any loose genepacks will be hauled to it. By disabling this option, genepacks will have to be selected manually by the player before they can be stored.

Allowing all genepacks

The default option for gene banks. Any loose genepacks that do not have an assignment will be hauled to the most convenient gene bank that allows all genepacks.

Manually assigning genepacks

Genepacks can only be stored in this gene bank if the player has explicitly requested them. Viewing the contents page will show a list all genepacks not currently in a gene bank. These genepacks can be assigned to the gene bank by selecting them from the list, after which a colonist will need to haul the genepack.

Setting this mode will not eject any genepacks currently stored in the genebank.