Biomets

Biomets are a proposed class of life-forms that integrate biological tissue with artificial computing substrates, enabling bidirectional coupling between metabolism and information processing. The term combines elements of biology and computation to describe systems that exhibit both living metabolism and machine-like information handling. Biomets are primarily discussed in speculative biology, biohybrid engineering, and science fiction as a framework for exploring living–machine interfaces.

Typical biomets feature three integrated components: a metabolically active core, a computational or neuromorphic layer, and a control mechanism that coordinates growth, repair, and behavior. They may show plastic morphology and self-repair capabilities, adapting their structure in response to environmental changes. Energy flows through conventional biological pathways and can power both physiological processes and computational tasks, sometimes using light, chemical nutrients, or other energy sources.

Taxonomic status for biomets is informal; they are not a formal taxon but a concept used to categorize biohybrid systems, living computing substrates, or engineered organisms that fuse biological and artificial elements. Real-world work cited in discussions includes cell-embedded circuits, biohybrid materials, and engineered microbes designed to influence electrical or chemical signaling in networks.

Ecology and behavior in biomets are often described as networked or colony-like, with communication through chemical signals, electrical activity, or optical cues. Reproduction may involve modular growth or replication of integrated components, all within safety and ethical frameworks. Biomets are used to probe questions about the limits of life, the boundaries between organism and machine, and the future of biotechnological innovation.