Branch-seeking. Inverse of radical. Of technology, seeks new effects or ramifications derived from existing root causes. Synthetic biology, as compared to systems biology. Of politics, liberalism. Produces the “tinkering around the edges” effect often observed in non-revolutionary ideologies. Not harmful in itself, but without sufficient accompanying radicalism, consensus develops ‘built-in’ boundaries for allowable change, virtually guaranteeing a system’s eventual terminus at local optimisation minima. A cage for science and truth-seeking is built out of establishing severe institutional biases towards ramicalism. (Think of the emphasis on ‘delivering products’ that capitalism produces.)