Challenges of alignment in synthetic cell research

M. G.J.L. Habets; H. A.E. Zwart; M. H. Smolka

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.05.024

Challenges of alignment in synthetic cell research

M. G.J.L. Habets^*
, H. A.E. Zwart
, M. H. Smolka

^*Corresponding author for this work

Erasmus School of Philosophy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/Letter to the editor › Popular

Abstract

Big Science projects are often troubled by misalignments. We analyze how synthetic cell researchers handle misalignments by performing alignment work. We find that alignment work renders Big Science feasible, but involves trade-offs, for example between short-term successes and long-term goals. We thus recommend attending to the politics of alignment work.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2087-2089
Number of pages	3
Journal	Trends in Biotechnology
Volume	43
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.05.024
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 20 Jun 2025

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© 2025 Elsevier Ltd

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title = "Challenges of alignment in synthetic cell research",

abstract = "Big Science projects are often troubled by misalignments. We analyze how synthetic cell researchers handle misalignments by performing alignment work. We find that alignment work renders Big Science feasible, but involves trade-offs, for example between short-term successes and long-term goals. We thus recommend attending to the politics of alignment work.",

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AU - Habets, M. G.J.L.

AU - Zwart, H. A.E.

AU - Smolka, M. H.

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Y1 - 2025/6/20

N2 - Big Science projects are often troubled by misalignments. We analyze how synthetic cell researchers handle misalignments by performing alignment work. We find that alignment work renders Big Science feasible, but involves trade-offs, for example between short-term successes and long-term goals. We thus recommend attending to the politics of alignment work.

AB - Big Science projects are often troubled by misalignments. We analyze how synthetic cell researchers handle misalignments by performing alignment work. We find that alignment work renders Big Science feasible, but involves trade-offs, for example between short-term successes and long-term goals. We thus recommend attending to the politics of alignment work.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105008567646

U2 - 10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.05.024

DO - 10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.05.024

M3 - Comment/Letter to the editor

C2 - 40544013

AN - SCOPUS:105008567646

SN - 0167-7799

VL - 43

SP - 2087

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JO - Trends in Biotechnology

JF - Trends in Biotechnology

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Challenges of alignment in synthetic cell research

Abstract

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