High-Throughput Biologically Optimized Search Engineering Approach to Synthetic Biology

Synthetic Biology is the new engineering-based approach to biology that includes applications of designing complex biological devices. At present, it is not yet clear what will emerge as the defining principles of Synthetic Biology. One proposed approach is to build Synthetic Biology around the classical engineering principles of standardization, modularity/decoupling and abstraction/modeling to facilitate component-based design. In this article we suggest and discuss an alternative paradigm, which we call High-throughput Biologically Optimized Search Engineering (HT-BOSE). Stemming from directed evolution, in HT-BOSE the focal point is a biological knowledge based rational optimization of the search process in the space of device design possibilities. The HT-BOSE approach may also be relevant in other contexts and we briefly highlight how it could be applicable to the development of multi-drug cocktails in a biomedical setting.