Self-similarity and synthetic biology: a possible fractal anticipation

In the field of synthetic biology, a promissory technoscience,researchers use risk-based and speculative scenarios to anticipatesynthetic biology futures. Yet, there is a sense in the field ofhistory repeating as synthetic biologists repeatedly deal withsimilar challenges. Perhaps a focus on contemplating theunexpected and attempts to deal with complex futures comeswith a failure, paradoxically, to prepare sufficiently for theexpected. This study develops a conceptual framework derivedfrom fractals and analyses data from ethnographic involvement inthe field synthetic biology to reimagine how patterns in syntheticbiology practices repeat at different orders of scale. This studybegins with the ‘pressure testing’ of a biofoundry and shows howsynthetic biology repeats at different scales of organisation,interaction and time. The case is made for a possible fractalanticipation which would have the capacity to identify patternsand support innovators, social scientists and researchers to bebetter prepared for encountering similar developments atdifferent orders of magnitude.