At the ODC25 conference, Dr. Choong-min Ryu from KRIBB shared an insightful presentation titled “Beyond Organoid: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Microbes,” which invited the audience to rethink our understanding of life, microorganisms, and our relationship with the invisible world around us.
Dr. Ryu’s journey into organoid research took an unexpected path. His earlier work focused on wax moths that break down plastic in beehives. Through this research, he observed something striking: while science often seeks to understand life by breaking it down, organoids represent the opposite approach – building organs from cells and tissues. This realization led him to ask a simple yet profound question: What is life? In exploring that question, Dr. Ryu drew connections between ancient philosophy and modern science, suggesting that the unseen microbes living in and on our bodies may hold essential clues to human survival.
You can watch his full lecture from ODC25 here:
From East to West: Two Perspectives on Life
Dr. Ryu opened with a compelling contrast between Western reductionism – breaking life down to DNA and molecules – and Eastern holistic philosophy. He referenced the ancient Book of Changes: “When lacking, things change; when changing, they open; when open, they endure; and that endurance is life.” This perspective perfectly frames organoid research, which reverses the traditional reductionist approach by building organs from tissue rather than breaking them down.
The Holobiome: We Are Never Alone
The concept of the “holobiome” emerged as a central theme – the idea that microorganisms and their hosts are inseparable. With microbes appearing 3.5 billion years ago, long before plants or animals, every living organism exists on a foundation built by these invisible pioneers. Remarkably, over 90% of microbes are beneficial, despite our tendency to focus on the harmful few.
Competition, Coexistence, and Connector Microbes
Dr. Ryu illustrated how organisms compete for resources but ultimately survive through symbiosis. A striking example: plants under insect attack send signals to soil bacteria like Pseudomonas, which respond by killing the attacking pests. This remarkable communication system demonstrates the sophisticated relationships within the holobiome.
Perhaps most intriguing was research from intensive care units showing that patients with higher microbial diversity had significantly better survival rates – proof that our microbiome can literally determine life or death.
The Future: AI and the Quest for Immortality
Looking ahead, Dr. Ryu suggested that identifying “connector microbes” – species that act as hubs linking diverse microbial communities – could revolutionize probiotic development. While currently too complex to analyze, advances in AI may make this possible within decades.
He concluded with a provocative question: as science advances toward potentially conquering aging and death within the next 50 years, we must ask not just what is logical, but what is right.
The takeaway? We exist not as isolated individuals, but as complex ecosystems. Understanding and nurturing our microbial partners may be the key to human health and longevity.
About Organoid Developer Conference
ODC (Organoid Developer Conference; website: https://odc.network/) is a visionary platform that paves the way for a sustainable future through organoid technology. By blending scientific innovation with artistic creativity, the event aims to unlock new possibilities and inspire transformative advancements.
Since its inception in 2018 as a symposium hosted by OrganoidSciences, Inc. in Korea, ODC has grown into a dynamic hub connecting over 1,000 institutions worldwide. It’s a place where curious minds – scientists, artists, philosophers, and everyday innovators – come together to share groundbreaking research, spark creative inspiration, and shape the future of bioscience.
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