Biologists are on their way to making semi-living cells from nothing

There were only eight components: two proteins, three regulated substances for acidity, two types of fat molecules, and some chemical energy, but this was enough to create a large group of pruning pulsars; they were primal structures resembling cells, with some mechanism for them ; To be divided on their own.

For biophysicist Petra Schweil, these innovative blocks in her lab represent an important step towards building an artificial cell, which she has sought over the last 10 years and recently observed at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martensrid, Germany.

Researchers have been trying to create artificial cells for more than 20 years by combining biogenic molecules together in the right context to approach the formation of different life features. Despite the presence of many of these features, they generally fall under three categories: the ability to split, or in other words the ability to separate bioparticles in vacuum; metabolism, a biochemistry that preserves life; information control, Cellular networks and their management.

The pace of action in this regard has been accelerating, thanks in part to recent developments in micro fluid techniques, which allow scientists to coordinate the movement of micro-cellular components. Research groups have already identified ways to sculpt cell-like blocks into desired forms, and also identified ways to create initial formulas of cellular metabolism and to implant hand-made genomes into living cells, but the combination of all these elements remains a challenge.