All articles tagged with #synthetic cells
Scientists worldwide are discussing the potential risks and benefits of creating mirror life, synthetic cells made from molecules that are mirror images of natural ones, due to concerns about environmental and health dangers versus potential medical and scientific benefits. The conference in Manchester aims to establish guidelines for safe research in this emerging field.
Scientists from UC San Diego have developed an abiotic system that synthesizes cell membranes and incorporates metabolic activity, providing insights into how life may have originated from nonliving matter on prebiotic Earth and advancing the creation of primitive, functional artificial cells.
A new theoretical study by researchers from the University of California, San Diego, has upgraded the model of chromosome replication in bacteria, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms that control replication initiation. The model explains why the protein responsible for replication initiation switches between two states and why it is immediately sequestered by the cell. The study provides insights into how living cells achieve precise control of replication and other cellular cycles, with potential implications for understanding evolutionary processes and designing synthetic cells.
In a study published in Nature, synthetic bacterial cells with a minimal genetic blueprint were found to thrive and evolve at a faster rate than their non-minimal counterparts. Over 2,000 generations, the stripped-down cells regained their evolutionary fitness, demonstrating the robustness of life and the power of evolution. The findings have implications for the development of synthetic bacteria that can produce medications, biofuels, and degrade hazardous chemicals by harnessing the forces of evolution. The study also sheds light on the importance of essential genes and metabolic innovation in adaptation and survival.
Researchers have assessed the progress and challenges in creating artificial mitochondria and chloroplasts for energy production in synthetic cells. These artificial organelles could potentially enable the development of new organisms or biomaterials. The researchers identified proteins as the most crucial components for molecular rotary machinery, proton transport, and ATP production, which serves as the cell’s primary energy currency. Future studies must investigate how to improve upon the limiting feature of self-adaptation in changing environments to maintain a stable supply of ATP before synthetic cells are self-sustainable.