Serendipity, Errors and Exaptation oh my!

 

Introduction

Life is really strange sometimes – we can find success in places we never expected, in ways that seem like failures and more – through means already known but not applied in the way that we would have applied them. This assignment asks that I sit down and look at three words – Serendipity, Error and Exaptation – and break down how innovation has happened as a result of these words.

Serendipity

How I would define Serendipity is a chance encounter that borders on unlikely without trying to make it happen.

The scholarly definition is the phenomenon of making fortunate discoveries by accident, often while looking for something else. (Makri & Blandford)

An example of this would be from the Individual Project I wrote a few weeks ago—the discovery of Penicillin by Alexander Fleming. Alexander accidentally left a petri dish uncovered when he went on vacation. When he returned, he found that mold had contaminated the dish and that the bacteria around the mold had been killed. This serendipitous event didn't happen because Fleming was searching for a new antibiotic and studying staphylococci bacteria. The accidental mold contamination and its antibacterial effect were unplanned but became one of history's most significant medical breakthroughs. (Kalvaitis, 2008)

Error

I definite an error as a mistake, either caused by incompetence or bad luck. Sometimes, things don’t work out because of incomplete data; sometimes, people make the wrong call because of their personal or professional background, but it is a mistake nonetheless.

The scholarly definition of “error” is a deviation from accuracy or correctness resulting from miscalculation, misjudgment, or a flaw in the process or system. Errors can occur in various contexts, including scientific experiments, data analysis, and human behavior, and are often categorized based on their origin and nature. (Kolodko, 2011)

An example of an error that resulted in innovation would be the discovery of Lidocaine. I recently had a simple medical procedure performed, and it involved gratuitous amounts of Lidocaine, so this seemed like a good example! The discovery of Lidocaine, a widely used local anesthetic, stemmed from an error during the synthesis of chemical compounds. Swedish chemist Nils Lofgren was conducting research at Stockholm University to develop new compounds with potential medical applications. The goal was to synthesize a series of chemicals related to cocaine, aiming to find alternatives that could serve as effective anesthetics but without the addictive properties and toxicity of cocaine. During the experiments, Löfgren accidentally synthesized a compound called xylocaine (later renamed Lidocaine). While testing this new compound, Lidocaine was discovered to have significant anesthetic properties without requiring full anesthesia. (Gordh, Gordh, Lindqvist, & Warner, 2010)

Exaptation

I would define Exaptation as discovering a new use for something you already have.

The scholarly definition of exaptation is a trait that initially evolved for one function but was later co-opted for a different function. (Garud, Gehman, & Giuliani)

For an example of this word in action in innovation, the new function of WD-40 as a lubricant instead of a corrosion-preventing chemical comes to mind. WD-40 was initially developed by the Rocket Chemical Company in 1953 to prevent corrosion on the Atlas missile. The team discovered that the water-displacing formula had many other uses during its development. Employees began taking it home for personal use, finding it effective as a lubricant and rust-preventative for household items. The product's versatility was quickly recognized, leading to its commercial release in 1958 as a multipurpose household product. Amusingly, the name of the product, WD-40, is actually an acronym, standing for “Water Displacement, Fortieth Attempt”. (Anderson et al., 2011)

Summary

                Serendipity, errors, and exaptation can significantly contribute to success, even in unlikely situations, by turning unexpected discoveries and mistakes into valuable innovations. Serendipity often leads to beneficial outcomes by chance, as seen with the discovery of penicillin, while errors can reveal new paths, like the accidental invention of Lidocaine. Exaptation illustrates how existing traits or technologies can be repurposed for new functions, exemplified by repurposing a chemical agent meant to protect nuclear missiles into a household lubricant that sees enormous use to this day.

 

References

 

Anderson, J. J., Determann, L., Sprague, R., Hazlett, T. W., Leo, E. T., Lipton, J. D., . . . Collins, K. E. (2011). 917 Secret Inventions.

Garud, R., Gehman, J., & Giuliani, A. P. Technological exaptation: a narrative approach. Industrial and corporate change, 25(1), 149-166. doi:10.1093/icc/dtv050

Gordh, T., Gordh, T. E., Lindqvist, K., & Warner, D. S. (2010). Lidocaine: the origin of a modern local anesthetic. The Journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, 113(6), 1433-1437.

Kalvaitis, K. (2008). Penicillin: an accidental discovery that changed the course of medicine. HEM/ONC Today, 9(14), 28. Retrieved from https://coloradotech.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/penicillin-accidental-discovery-that-changed/docview/199672692/se-2?accountid=144789

Kolodko, G. W. (2011). Truth, Errors, and Lies : Politics and Economics in a Volatile World. New York, UNITED STATES: Columbia University Press.

Makri, S., & Blandford, A. What is Serendipity? A Workshop Report. Information research, 16(3).