Papers by Keyword: Synthetic Biology

Abstract: In this article I discuss the backgrounds, some technical insights, and the novel developments of a bioengineering approach to semi-synthetic minimal cells that is currently pursued within the EU project SYNTHCELLS. Originally developed by Pier Luigi Luisi and coworkers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH, Zurich), the project aims to the construction of liposome-based bioreactors, which display living properties, although at a minor complexity level.

Abstract: DNA has been recently used to construct a variety of nanoscale machines and switches, among them devices which can translocate, compute, or bind and release molecules. For future applications it is interesting to investigate whether these "artificial" functions can also be implemented in vivo. As one step towards in vivo applications, we currently utilize RNA molecules for construction or control of molecular devices. RNA molecules can be transcribed from "artificial genes" and either fold into functional nanoassemblies themselves or drive other nucleic acid-based devices as a "fuel". Furthermore, coupling of nanomachines to RNA transcription enables control of their behavior using gene regulatory motifs.