Generating diverse genomes to scale biomanufacturing
Biomanufacturing—the process of using biological systems to produce materials like chemicals, enzymes, food ingredients, and biologics—relies heavily on a narrow set of organisms, often discovered by chance. These organisms serve as the “factories” of bioproduction, but their limited diversity constrains the industry’s potential to address global needs sustainably. Current methods for improving these biological factories, such as rational modification and chemical mutagenesis, introduce genetic variations slowly, hampering the discovery of innovative phenotypes. As a result, the industry faces high costs, low yields, and inefficient processes, creating significant barriers to advancing biomanufacturing and expanding its applications.
What is the Solution?
Anthology, a Cambridge, MA-based startup with roots at MIT, Boston University, and Harvard, is pioneering a new era of biomanufacturing by accelerating the generation and selection of genetic diversity. Their proprietary platform combines advanced hardware and custom digital tools to produce a far broader range of candidate host organisms than traditional methods. These organisms are then rapidly screened and optimized through Anthology’s innovative selection tools, enabling breakthroughs at the protein, pathway, and genome levels.
The data collected from these efforts pave the way for Anthology’s bold vision: crafting functional genomes from scratch. By combining expanded genome diversification with advanced computational tools, Anthology aims to create entirely novel organisms that can serve as sustainable and cost-effective solutions for industries ranging from chemicals and materials to food, enzymes, and biologics. This transformative approach has the potential to redefine the future of synthetic biology and unlock the full potential of the bio-economy.
What EQT Foundation loves about Anthology
Anthology is boldly reimagining what’s possible in biomanufacturing by designing functional genomes from scratch. It’s like that saying: don’t put all your eggs in one basket—the same logic applies to genomes. By generating highly diversified genomes, Anthology isn’t just playing the odds—they’re reshaping them, dramatically increasing the chances of discovering phenotypes that could revolutionize biomanufacturing.We love how Anthology’s work allows nature’s full diversity to inspire human innovation and treatments.
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