The path to innovation in biotechnology design

Scientists working on biological design should focus on the particularities of biological systems rather than optimization, according to new research.

In a study published in Scientists progress, researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Ghent have shown how exploring the unknown could be the crucial step needed to achieve the continuous innovation needed for the biotechnologies of the future. The article is titled “Openness in Synthetic Biology: A Path to Continuous Innovation for Biological Design.”

Recognizing the role of aperture in achieving this goal and its growing importance in fields such as computer science and evolutionary biology, the team determined how aperture relates to the current practice of bioengineering and what would be necessary to achieve this in the laboratory.

To be successful, algorithms used for biological design must not only focus on progress toward a specific goal, such as increased yield, but also consider creating and maintaining novelty and diversity in solutions found.

Dr Thomas Gorochowski, co-author and Royal Society Research Fellow at the School of Biological Sciences, Bristol, said: “When we are trying to engineer a complex biological process, it is often tempting to simply modify something that works. partially rather than taking the risk of trying something completely new.

“In this work, we emphasize that in these situations, the best solutions often come from unexpected directions, because we don’t always fully understand how everything works. With biology, there are a lot of unknowns and so we need to a vast and diverse toolbox for building blocks to ensure we have the best chance of finding the solution we need.

Lead author Professor Michiel Stock from Ghent University added: “Biological systems have a natural capacity for innovation that has led to the overwhelming biodiversity we see in nature today.

“In contrast, our own attempts at biological engineering lack this creativity: they are much more rigid, less imaginative and often (do not) make the best use of what biology is capable of.

“Knowing that all life around us comes from an unlimited process of evolution, wouldn’t it be great if we could harness some of that power for our own biological designs.”

The ability to create new biotechnologies is becoming increasingly important to address global challenges ranging from sustainable production of chemicals, materials and foods to advanced therapies to combat emerging diseases. These advances are fueled by innovations in how biology can be harnessed in new ways. This work supports this goal by providing a new direction for new research and design approaches.