In his talk titled "Biotechnology X.0" on the TEDxBebek stage, our Chairman of the Board, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Çabuk, states that the pace of biotechnology's development can no longer be limited to numbers like 4.0 or 5.0. He emphasizes that the letter 'X' here does not represent an unknown, as in mathematics, but rather an infinite evolution, along with brand-new opportunities and responsibilities that humanity must manage.

Speaking about turning points in understanding the cell, Ahmet Çabuk notes that while the invention of the electron microscope merely gave us a photograph of the cell's structure, today data science and artificial intelligence allow us to watch the "movie" of the cell—and even predict how it will behave in the next scene.

Ahmet Çabuk defines the cell as "computer hardware" and cellular metabolism as "software." He recalls how broken electronic devices used to require physical component (hardware) replacements, whereas today technical services resolve issues simply by updating the software. Similarly, because we now understand the genetic language (DNA) of the cell, biotechnology enables us to achieve results by updating the cell's software rather than relying solely on physical interventions.

He points out that since the Industrial Revolution, humanity has viewed nature as an "inexhaustible resource," exploiting and polluting it, but biotechnology reminds us that we are merely a part of the ecosystem. He highlights that while many other technologies have developed at the expense of nature—forcing and damaging it—biotechnology prioritizes processes that work in partnership and harmony with nature, rather than competing with or dominating it.

To illustrate the immense value of Anatolia's biological habitat and microorganism diversity, he shares a striking story: the bacterium that produces an active antibiotic ingredient used worldwide was isolated from the soil of Mount Ararat by foreign researchers in 1987, eventually turning into a multi-million-dollar asset and receiving FDA approval years later. For this reason, he stresses that "culture collections" must be established and supported to protect our country's genetic resources (microorganisms), describing them as the central banks that will drive the bioeconomy of the future.

The link to listen to the full talk can be found below: