Effects of intraspecies and interspecies competition on genetic device construction and performance

First-generation biotechnology focused on genetic devices designed for use in monoculture conditions. One class of next-generation biotechnology devices could be designed to function in complex ecosystems with other organisms, so we sought to create conditions where the genetic device retained function when the organism carrying it is in co-culture with other organisms. We discovered that when the genetic device is a significant resource burden on the organism carrying the device, mutations will be selected for due to intraspecies and interspecies selection pressures, and the device will be rendered non-functional. Therefore, genetic device design for complex ecosystems in next-generation biotechnology needs to balance functionality of the genetic device with the need to reduce resource burden on the organism carrying it.