> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.biomni.phylo.bio/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Skills & Capabilities

> Start from a proven scientific workflow or explore what Biomni can do

Biomni combines a general research agent with reusable **Skills** and a browsable
catalog of **Capabilities**. Use a Skill when you want a tested workflow with
clear instructions. Browse Capabilities when you want examples of the research
questions Biomni can handle.

## Skills

A Skill is a packaged workflow for a specific kind of work. It can include
instructions, supporting references, scripts, and expected outputs.

To use one in a task:

1. Select **+ Add** in the composer.
2. Choose **Skills**. You can also type `+` in the composer.
3. Search or browse the catalog.
4. Select a Skill to attach it, then describe your data and goal.

The attached Skill appears in your message. Biomni reads it when it starts that
turn and follows its workflow alongside your request.

<Tip>
  Attach only the Skills that are relevant to the current task. Extra instructions
  consume context and can pull the analysis in competing directions.
</Tip>

### Project-attached Skills

Project admins can make selected Skills apply automatically to the first message
of each new task:

1. Open **Settings → Projects**.
2. Select the project.
3. Add Skills under **Auto attached skills**.

Project settings are captured when a task is created. Changing the list affects
new tasks, not existing conversations.

## Capabilities

The Capabilities catalog groups example analyses by scientific area and outcome.
Use it to discover a starting prompt, understand typical inputs and outputs, or
open a new task for a supported workflow.

Capabilities are examples, not rigid templates. After opening one, adapt the
prompt to your experiment, files, organism, constraints, and desired output.

## Skills, resources, and tools

| Use                                                   | Best choice                                   |
| ----------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| Follow a reusable, domain-specific workflow           | **Skill**                                     |
| Start from an example research outcome                | **Capability**                                |
| Point Biomni at a database, package, or analysis tool | **Resource**                                  |
| Give the agent a file                                 | **Upload** or select an existing project file |

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Browse resources" icon="database" href="/features/resources">
    Databases, software, HPC tools, and pipelines.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Write a strong request" icon="message" href="/how-to-prompt">
    Add the context and constraints a workflow needs.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>