Abstraction hierarchy to define biofoundry workflows and operations for interoperable synthetic biology research and applications

Abstract Lack of standardization in biofoundries limits the scalability and efficiency of synthetic biology research. Here, we propose an abstraction hierarchy that organizes biofoundry activities into four interoperable levels: Project, Service/Capability, Workflow, and Unit Operation, effectively...

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Main Authors: Haseong Kim, Nathan J. Hillson, Byung-Kwan Cho, Bong Hyun Sung, Dae-Hee Lee, Dong-Myung Kim, Min-Kyu Oh, Matthew Wook Chang, Yong-Su Jin, Susan J. Rosser, Peter Vegh, Rennos Fragkoudis, Rosalind Le Feuvre, Nigel S. Scrutton, Marko Storch, Wonjae Seong, Paul S. Freemont, Seung-Goo Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61263-6
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Summary:Abstract Lack of standardization in biofoundries limits the scalability and efficiency of synthetic biology research. Here, we propose an abstraction hierarchy that organizes biofoundry activities into four interoperable levels: Project, Service/Capability, Workflow, and Unit Operation, effectively streamlining the Design‑Build‑Test‑Learn (DBTL) cycle. This framework enables more modular, flexible, and automated experimental workflows. It improves communication between researchers and systems, supports reproducibility, and facilitates better integration of software tools and artificial intelligence. Our approach lays the foundation for a globally interoperable biofoundry network, advancing collaborative synthetic biology and accelerating innovation in response to scientific and societal challenges.
ISSN:2041-1723