Industry 5.0-The Relevance and Implications of Bionics and Synthetic Biology

Bionics （the imitation or abstraction of the ＂inventions＂ of nature） and, to an even greater extent, syn- thetic biology, will be as relevant to engineering development and industry as the silicon chip was over the last 50 years. Chemical industries already use so-called ＂white biotechnology＂ for new processes, new raw materials, and more sustainable use of resources. Synthetic biology is also used for the devel- opment of second-generation biofuels and for harvesting the sun＇s energy with the help of tailor-made microorganisms or biometrically designed catalysts. The market potential for bionics in medicine, en- gineering processes, and DNA storage is huge. ＂Moonshot＂ projects are already aggressively focusing on diseases and new materials, and a US-led competition is currently underway with the aim of creating a thousand new molecules. This article describes a timeline that starts with current projects and then moves on to code engineering projects and their implications, artificial DNA, signaling molecules, and biological circuitry. Beyond these projects, one of the next frontiers in bionics is the design of synthetic metabolisms that include artificial food chains and foods, and the bioengineering of raw materials; all of which will lead to new insights into biological principles. Bioengineering will be an innovation motor just as digitalization is today. This article discusses pertinent examples of bioengineering, particularly the use of alternative carbon-based biofuels and the techniques and perils of cell modification. Big data, analytics, and massive storage are important factors in this next frontier. Although synthetic biology will be as pervasive and transformative in the next 50 years as digitization and the Intemet are today, its ap- plications and impacts are still in nascent stages. This article provides a general taxonomy in which the development of bioengineering is classified in five stages （DNA analysis, bio-circuits, minimal genomes, protocells, xenobiology） from the familiar to the unknown, with implications for safety and security, in- dustrial development, and the development of bioengineering and biotechnology as an interdisciplinary field. Ethical issues and the importance of a public debate about the consequences of bionics and syn- thetic biology are discussed.

DNA barcoding of the family Sparidae along the coast of China and revelation of potential cryptic diversity in the IndoWest Pacific oceans based on COI and 16S rRNA genes

Sparids are of considerable economic importance in marine fishery and aquaculture in China, and the species diversity of this group is considered relatively high. However, the accurate species identification and delimitation of sparids in China remain unaddressed. In this study, we used mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit ?(COI) and 16S ribosomal RNA(16S) genes to conduct DNA barcoding and species delimitation in eleven sparid species from the coastal waters of China. Based on Kimura-2 parameter genetic distances, the mean intraspecific/interspecific variation for COI and 16S were calculated as 0.004/0.152 and 0.002/0.072, respectively. All the conspecific individuals formed monophyletic clusters in neighbour-joining trees of both markers. An obvious barcoding gap was detected for each species, and a common genetic threshold of 1.3% sequence divergence was defined for species delimitation in both markers. Although the sequence variation of 16S was generally lower than that of COI, the results indicated that sparid species could be ef fectively and accurately identified and delimited by COI as well as 16S. Thus, we propose that the COI gene serve as the standard DNA barcode for sparids, and that the 16S gene could also be an ideal candidate barcode. Moreover, each of the six sparid species( Argyrops spinifer, Rhabdosargus sarba, Dentex hypselosomus, Acanthopagrus latus, Acanthopagrus australis and Acanthopagrus berda) showed high intraspecific divergence(>1.3% genetic threshold) with the remarkable geographic lineages in the Indo-West Pacific oceans, which supported that potential unrecognized cryptic species were in them. The potential cryptic diversity revealed here might be primarily attributed to the allopatric divergences caused by the long-term geographic isolation between the Indian and West Pacific oceans or between the opposite sides of the Indian Ocean. The results further suggest that a revision of taxonomic status of these species is required, followed by development of a biodiversity conservation strategy.

Hypothetical Commercialization of Biotech Soybeans in China： Impacts on Domestic Markets and International Trade

China is the leading importer of soybeans in the world. If China adopts high yield biotech soybean varieties, China＇s soybean production would increase significantly and this would impact global soybean markets. This paper assesses the possible effects of adoption of herbicide-tolerant, biotech soybeans in China and its impact on the world soybean trade. Results indicate that under a low technology fee and high adoption rate, China would be able to satisfy its soybean food demand. Urban consumers＇ strong preference for non-biotech soybean oil may lead to increase in imports of non-biotech soybeans.

Identification of wild and farmed broadhead catfish (Clarias macrocephalus Günther,1864) based on morphometry,digestive indexes and flesh quality

Wild and farmed fish generally dif fer in their nutritional composition. In this study, adult wild and farmed broadhead catfish( Clarias macrocephalus Günther, 1864) were collected and were assessed for various characteristics, namely morphometrics, digestive indexes, and flesh quality. The morphometrics(standard length, body depth, eye width, fin height and tentacle length) and the digestive indexes(intestosomatic index, digestosomatic index, perivisceral fat index and activities of pepsin and lipase) diff ered significantly between the groups(P <0.05) and can be used to distinguish wild fish from farmed fish. In terms of protein synthesis capacity and color, the flesh quality was similar between the groups. However, radical scavenging activities and reducing power were significantly higher in the wild fish than in the farmraised group. The thermal transition characteristics of sarcoplasmic proteins, as well as myosin denaturation enthalpy and fatty acid profiles(C18:2 n6, C20:0, C22:1 n9, C24:0, Σpolyunsaturated fatty acids, and Σn–6) also exhibited potential to enable calls about the fish origin. The proximate chemical composition of whole body did not diff er between the two fish populations. Our findings suggest bioindicators, in terms of morphometrics, digestive indexes and flesh quality, that can be used to identify the origin of fish for forensic purposes, of for conservation biology of this near threatened species. The new nutritional information may be of interest to marketing, consumers, and has a connection to nutritional eff ects on human health.

Fourth Industrial Revolution:Technological Drivers,Impacts and Coping Methods

The world is marching into a new development period when the digital technology,physical technology,and biological technology have achieved an unprecedented development respectively in their own fields,and at the same time their applications are converging greatly.These are the three major technological drivers for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.This paper discusses the specific technology niches of each kind technological driver behind the Fourth Industrial Revolution,and then evaluates impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on global industrial,economic,and social development.At last this paper proposes possible measures and policies for both firms and governments to cope with the changes brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Biochar-based Solid Acids as Catalysts for Carbohydrate Hydrolysis: A Critical Review

Recently, increasing interest has been focused on the hydrolysis of carbohydrates to monosaccharides, among which, glucose and xylose as typical platform sugars can be used to produce chemicals and biofuels. As heterogeneous catalysts, solid acids have gained extensive attention for biomass biorefinery and could replace the conventional process owing to their excellent properties, including acceptable acidity and easy separation. In particular, biochar-based solid acids derived from biomass are promising for biomass conversion owing to the low-cost of feedstocks and the simple preparation procedure. Herein, we attempt to provide a critical overview of biochar-based solid acids for hydrolysis of carbohydrates into glucose and xylose. The preparation methods and properties of biochar-based catalysts as well as the influence of their properties on catalytic performance were discussed in detail. We also highlight the major challenges facing the use of biochar-based solid acids for carbohydrate hydrolysis.

China's Agricultural Development: Structural Contradictions and Policy Transition

The primary contradiction facing China's agricultural development has shifted from the previous undersupply to structural contradictions. This paper dissects these structural contradictions in terms of sectoral structure, product structure, organizational structure, technical structure, trade structure and spatial structure. Since reform and opening-up in 1978, China has followed a growth-oriented agricultural policy to ensure steady yield increase. Indeed, this policy has effectively increased the output of agricultural produce, safeguarded national food security, and enhanced agricultural production capabilities. However, China's agriculture is yet to become internationally competitive, increase efficiency and farmers' income, and improve the quality and safety of agricultural produce. As China's agricultural development enters into a new stage of comprehensive transition and upgrade, it is essential for China's agricultural policy to shift from the progrowth policy characterized by the dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to an efficiency and quality-oriented policy that pursues green agriculture.

Erythropoietin： From a Biosimilar to Innovative Products Protected by Industrial Property Assets

Aim： EPO （erythropoietin） is a hormone that stimulates the erythropoiesis and is mainly produced by the kidneys. In the early 1990s among the emerging biotech drugs, the recombinant human EPO （rhEPO） was the best-selling product worldwide, reaching nearly three billion dollars annually. The CIM （center of molecular immunology） produced and sold the rhEPO as commercial strategy to recover the investment made in its new facilities. This work summarizes the inventions that protect the innovative products developed by three Cuban institutions, starting from rhEPO, and the industrial property strategy followed by them. Methods： The information was obtained from the United States Patent, Trademark Office （USPTO） database, Patentscope, Espacenet, patent databases of Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Drug Development （CIDEM） and Cuban Industrial Property Office. Conclusions： The manufacturing process of CIM＇s EPO has its own patent family. From a manufacturing by product an innovative formulation protected by patent was obtained. There is a patent family around the nasal formulation and it continues enlarging. From a biosimilar pharmaceutical innovative products impacting on human health have been obtained.