Bacterial Cells as Model Factories

Ichiro Matsumura

Department of Biochemistry, Center for Fundamental and Applied Molecular Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ajor.2013.31A007                

Abstract

Bacteria, like industrial engineers, must manage processes that convert low value inputs into high value outputs. Bacteria are not intelligent, so they utilize self-organizing production systems to accelerate life-sustaining chemical processes. Here I explore two questions. First, can businesses apply the principles of self-organization? Second, can operations researchers contribute to our understanding of biological systems? I explain biochemical concepts in plain terms, illustrated with a few informative laboratory evolution experiments, and describe the organizing principles that underlie complex biological systems. I describe the new disciplines of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering, which offer opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration between life scientists and operations researchers.

Keywords

Complex Systems; Control Theory; Synthetic Biology; Metabolic Engineering

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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