The enlightenment of the Chinese philosophy “Tao-Fa-Shu-Qi” to industrial biomanufacturing

ZHANG Yi-Heng P. Job

doi:10.12211/2096-8280.2023-066

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The enlightenment of the Chinese philosophy “Tao-Fa-Shu-Qi” to industrial biomanufacturing

Perspective | 更新时间：2025-04-11

- The enlightenment of the Chinese philosophy “Tao-Fa-Shu-Qi” to industrial biomanufacturing
- Synthetic Biology Journal Vol. 5, Issue 6, Pages: 1231-1241(2024)
- 作者机构：
  
  1.中国科学院天津工业生物技术研究所，低碳合成工程生物学（全国）重点实验室，天津 300308
  2.中国科学院天津工业生物技术研究所体外合成生物学中心，天津 300308
  3.国家合成生物技术创新中心，天津 300308
- 作者简介：
- 基金信息：
- DOI：10.12211/2096-8280.2023-066
  CLC： Q81;B80
- Received：14 September 2023，
  
  Revised：2023-12-08，
  
  Published：31 December 2024
- 稿件说明：
移动端阅览
张以恒. 中国哲学思想“道法术器”对生物制造的启示［J］. 合成生物学， 2024， 5（6）： 1231-1241

ZHANG Yi-Heng P. Job. The enlightenment of the Chinese philosophy “Tao-Fa-Shu-Qi” to industrial biomanufacturing［J］. Synthetic Biology Journal， 2024， 5（6）： 1231-1241
张以恒. 中国哲学思想“道法术器”对生物制造的启示［J］. 合成生物学， 2024， 5（6）： 1231-1241 DOI： 10.12211/2096-8280.2023-066.

ZHANG Yi-Heng P. Job. The enlightenment of the Chinese philosophy “Tao-Fa-Shu-Qi” to industrial biomanufacturing［J］. Synthetic Biology Journal， 2024， 5（6）： 1231-1241 DOI： 10.12211/2096-8280.2023-066.

摘要

生物制造是利用生物体（如植物、动物、微生物、酶、体外多酶分子机器等）的机能进行物质加工与合成的绿色生产方式，将在能源、农业、化工和医药等领域改变世界工业制造格局，是科技战必争之地。作者应用中国古代哲学的“道、法、术、器”思想“道以明向，法以立本，术以立策，器以成事”，对工业生物制造的道与法进行解释与剖析，阐明顶层设计对生物制造的哲学指导意义。以美国合成生物学先驱公司Amyris为例，作者分析与讨论该公司产品选择以及隐含“道与法”，尽管该公司具有优秀“术与器”，但是走错道与不懂法决定该公司的失败命运。同时，作者简单地讨论两个人工淀粉合成技术的经济可能性与未来技术研发方向。总之，中国古代哲学思想“大道至简，从上而下，以道御术”，将对工业生物制造的未来发展提供顶层设计方法学上的启发与指导，将更有效地应对粮食安全、双碳目标与可持续发展等重大挑战。

Abstract

Biomanufacturing is a green production that applies such bio-organisms as plants

animals

microorganisms

enzymes as well as

in vitro

synthetic enzymatic biosystems

to process and/or synthesize numerous value-added compounds

which would change the world′s future of industrial manufacturing in the energy

agricultural

chemical

and pharmaceutical industries. The competition of biomanufacturing is a key part of the battlefield of science and technology. Here we attempt to apply the ancient Chinese philosophy to provide enlightenment to the future development of industrial biomanufacturing. The ancient Chinese philosophy of “Tao-Fa-Shu-Qi” encompasses four key elements: “Tao is a way or direction

Fa is rules

Shu is techniques

and Qi is tools for accomplishing goals”. First

we define and explain the “Tao and Fa” of industrial biomanufacturing analyzes. Second

we analyze the limits and restriction set by Fa. Third

we expound this philosophy of “Tao and Fa” and how it guides way or choice of biomanufacturing type for the desired products. Based on “Tao-Fa-Shu-Qi”

we also present some predictions that a few hot products cannot be manufactured economically by seemingly-promising new techniques based on the limits and restriction of Fa. We take Amyris

a pioneering American company in synthetic biology as an example to analyze and discuss the important roles of “Tao and Fa” in the selection of biomanufactured products

far more important than “Shu and Qi”. Amyris’ failure was destined at its beginning because it went a wrong way (Tao) and ignored basic laws (Fa)

although it exhibited advanced abilities of technologies and tools (“Shu and Qi”). Also

we briefly discuss opportunities and challenges of ensuring food security of China by using two disruptive technologies-making synthetic starch from lignocellulosic biomass and carbon dioxide catalyzed by

in vitro

synthetic enzymatic biosystems. In a word

the ancient Chinese philosophy “the way is simple

from top to down

the way guides techniques and tools” would provide top-level design methodology

identify the future research and development priorities in industrial biomanufacturing

and help effectively s

olve the major challenges

such as food security

dual carbon goals

and sustainable development.

关键词

Keywords

references

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