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Carolus Vitalis grew up in a small town in Chile—a town so small it doesn’t appear on any maps.��

Now he’s at the forefront of a large, impactful discussion: the pros and cons of artificial intelligence in the field of synthetic biology.

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Vitalis performing lab work in the Genetic Logic Lab under Professor Chris Myers at 91��ý. (Photo by Juan Hanel)

Vitalis, a PhD student in the��Biomedical Engineering Program (BME) at 91��ý and National Science Foundation (NSF) fellow who has co-authored several book chapters in synthetic biology, was one of the headliners at this year’s�� event on April 5. The annual speaker series brings the local community together to engage in conversations exploring everything from science and business to education, arts and global issues.

This year’s event had a theme: “anomaly”. Nine speakers from all across the Boulder area took the stage to redefine what it means to be normal. Whether it’s a local Olympic duo sharing their unorthodox training methods, or a 91��ý student discussing her rare neurocognitive condition, these thought-provoking talks challenged the community to think beyond convention and see their differences as strengths.

For Vitalis, the word “anomaly” is special. It represents a personal journey that takes him back home to his family.

Vitalis fell in love with science when he was just a little boy. But after his father died following a battle with cancer, he quickly realized that biology and engineering isn’t just a fascination. It was his purpose.

“My father wasn’t able to see me graduate from high school. He died right before I started college,” said Vitalis. “I always had a passion for science and synthetic biology, but when he passed everything shifted. At that moment, my curiosity turned into my purpose. I became determined to find out why my family’s genes were not functioning properly and how I could fix it.”

These early passions led Vitalis to the University of Chile, where he graduated with a professional degree in molecular biotechnology engineering. He says this early schooling helped create a strong foundation of knowledge, and fostered problem solving skills crucial to his vision.

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Vitalis, a curious and experienced synthetic biologist, examining lab materials in the laboratory. (Photo by Juan Hanel)

Today, Vitalis designs novel DNA sequences under��Professor Chris Myers in the�� using AI—a burgeoning tool taking the world by storm. It’s a unique intersection of biology and technology that he believes is more than necessary.

“Everything happening within a cell is so complex for a human to understand on their own,” Vitalis said. “If we ever want to develop more precise tools to address challenges in climate, health, agriculture and beyond, we will need the help of a computer to run these simulations and apply the right resources.”

It goes back to the term “anomaly,” the TEDxCU event’s central focus. For years, synthetic biologists have seen cell complexity and variation as an obstacle, limiting their ability to innovate new solutions.��

Vitalis is urging the next crop of genetic engineers to embrace these biological anomalies with a team of man and machine that he believes can be revolutionary.

“The opportunities are endless,” said Vitalis. “Maybe one day we can engineer therapeutic bacteria that act as biosensors—detecting disease markers, processing that information and releasing treatment only at the site where it is needed. Or maybe we can modify plants that are tolerant to saline conditions or drought.

“Our field is about modifying biology, so we can potentially impact everywhere biology is involved.”

Vitalis understands the discussion surrounding this new-age collaboration isn’t as simple as it seems. There are some ethical questions and concerns that may arise that he would like to address, as well.

“A lot of people are going to hesitate and wonder if we are ‘playing god’ or messing with higher powers,” Vitalis said. "I want to remind people that humans have been modifying nature for thousands of years by selecting traits in crops and livestock that meet our needs. What is different now is that we can do it with much greater precision, speed and safety, guided by scientific knowledge. There are also strict protocols in place to ensure that these technologies are developed responsibly."

It’s not just about scientific advancements and ethical debates. Most importantly, Vitalis wants to inspire a new era of innovators to challenge the standards and look beyond their upbringing—just like he did on his way to Boulder.

“I hope that my work and my story can inspire people to work together and dream big,” said Vitalis.