Biofoundry Workflows

Abstraction hierarchy of workflows and unit operations for biofoundry automation

1 Overview

Due to differences in terminology, concepts, and scope among biofoundry researchers, there are limitations in utilizing physically/logically standardized automated equipment and software
Conceptually subdividing and structuring the processes required in biofoundries enables standardized execution and management of processes, thereby improving biofoundry performance
We propose a 4-level abstraction hierarchy (Project, Service/Capability, Workflow, Unit Operation) to standardize biofoundries and streamline the DBTL cycle. This framework improves modularity, automation, and reproducibility while enabling better integration of AI tools, ultimately supporting a globally interoperable biofoundry network for collaborative synthetic biology. See Biofoundry Workflow Abstraction Hierarchy and its Supplement Information

Workflow: Defined as a logical, sequential flow of unit processes that can include part or all of the DBTL (Design-Build-Test-Learn) stages of experiments. Can be utilized as a basic unit for measuring biofoundry performance and developing automation levels.
Unit Operation: The minimum unit process of experiments, where one unit operation is defined to correspond to one piece of equipment (UO) or one software (US)

We welcome contributions and feedback! Please use the issue board for suggestions and discussions about workflow and unit operation definitions.