From Plant Genetic Resource Conservation to Digital Biorepositories: A Coming Paradigm Shift in Ex-Situ Conservation?

Abstract: Plant Genetic Resource Conservation has been a staple of agricultural development for the past century. Recently, several prominent papers have raised alarm surrounding the development of synthetic biology techniques and their potential to render modern practices and methods of conservation in the global genebank network obsolete. In contrast to traditional crop improvement methods, synthetic biology is not wholly dependent on physically conserved genetic diversity as a resource base for new traits. This thesis utilises a mixed methods approach in the form of an exploratory sequential design to assess the nature of these developments, and how technological growth has changed in relevant fields within synthetic biology and bioinformatics. This involves interviews with researchers and genebank employees to determine the expected impact of synthetic biology on the genebank system. As synthetic biology is not currently the primary method for crop improvement, the qualitative analysis is followed by a patent analysis of synthetic biology and bioinformatic techniques, which is designed to determine the direction of innovation within the field. In doing so, this thesis highlights that synthetic biology innovation enabling it to take over the market is a significant possibility. Given advancements in bioinformatics, digitalisation of genebank collections will likely allow them to survive the paradigm shift in the short term. However, questions remain about their long-term viability.