Scientific advancement is often a race towards better, faster, and more efficient. However, this approach may dampen true progress. Instead, new research suggests that scientists involved in biological design should prioritize understanding the peculiarities of biological systems over these optimization efforts. In a recent publication in Science Advances, researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Ghent underscored the importance of exploring the unknown as a critical step towards achieving the continuous innovation required for future biotechnologies.

The study emphasizes the role of open-endedness in reaching this objective, aligning with its increasing significance in fields like computer science and evolutionary biology. The research team outlined the connection between open-endedness and current bioengineering practices and identified the necessary steps to incorporate it into laboratory settings.

The key insight from the study is that algorithms employed in biological design should not solely concentrate on progressing toward specific objectives, such as enhancing yield. Instead, they should also prioritize the generation and preservation of novelty and diversity in the solutions discovered.

Dr. Thomas Gorochowski, co-author and Royal Society University Research Fellow in the School of Biological Sciences at Bristol elaborated on this approach: “When we try to design a complex biological process, it’s often tempting to just tweak something that partially works rather than take the risk of trying something completely new.”

Gorochowski continues, “In this work, we highlight 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 lots of unknowns, and so we need a vast and diverse toolkit of building blocks to ensure we have the best chance of finding the solution we need.”

Professor Michiel Stock, lead author from Ghent University, highlighted the inherent innovative capacity of biological systems that has resulted in the remarkable biodiversity observed in nature. “Our own attempts to engineer biology, in contrast, lack this creativity – they are far more rigid, less imaginative, and often doesn’t make the best use of what biology is capable of,” Stock explained. In retaliation to this standard, Stock advocates a more adventurous approach. “With all life around us originating from the open-ended process of evolution, wouldn’t it be awesome if we could harness some of that power for our own biological designs.”

The ability to develop new biotechnologies is increasingly crucial in addressing global challenges related to sustainable chemical production, materials, food, and advanced therapeutics for emerging diseases. This study provides a fresh perspective for future research and design approaches to support these goals. 

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