Issue 7, 2009
From the journal:

Molecular BioSystems

Darwinian chemistry: towards the synthesis of a simple cell†

David Loakesa  and  Philipp Holliger*a  

* Corresponding authors

a Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge, UK
E-mail: ph1@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk
Fax: +44 1223 412178
Tel: +44 1223 402134

Abstract

The total synthesis of a simple cell is in many ways the ultimate challenge in synthetic biology. Outlined eight years ago in a visionary article by Szostak et al. (J. W. Szostak, D. P. Bartel and P. L. Luisi, Nature, 2001, 409, 387), the chances of success seemed remote. However, recent progress in nucleic acid chemistry, directed evolution and membrane biophysics have brought the prospect of a simple synthetic cell with life-like properties such as growth, division, heredity and evolution within reach. Success in this area will not only revolutionize our understanding of abiogenesis but provide a fertile test-bed for models of prebiotic chemistry and early evolution. Last but not least, a robust “living” protocell may provide a versatile and safe chassis for embedding synthetic devices and systems.

Graphical abstract: Darwinian chemistry: towards the synthesis of a simple cell

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/B904024B
Article type
Review Article
Submitted
26 Feb 2009
Accepted
27 Mar 2009
First published
06 May 2009

Mol. BioSyst., 2009,5, 686-694

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Darwinian chemistry: towards the synthesis of a simple cell

D. Loakes and P. Holliger, Mol. BioSyst., 2009, 5, 686 DOI: 10.1039/B904024B

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