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Design and Implementation of Multi-Component Synthetic Cells

The long-term goal of this research is to create genetically programmed synthetic cells consisting of multiple subsystems operating in an integrated fashion. Unlike more traditional synthetic biology approaches, synthetic cells are non-living: they make use of genetic elements provided by biology, but they do not replicate, mutate, or evolve. Applica- tions range from synthesis of bio-compatible materials, to environmental monitoring and remediation, to self-assembly of complex multi-cellular machines. Pursuing this goal requires fundamental research in biological engineering, aimed at moving from creation of clever biomolecular devices to systematic specification, design, integration, and testing of circuits, subsystems, cells, and multi-component systems.

We propose to develop and demonstrate the key design tools, molecular components, and system-level architecture for synthetic cells. While we do not anticipate that a single project will lead to a functioning synthetic cell in a 3–5-year time, we believe that it will be possible implement and integrate a variety of subsystems that establish the feasibility of synthetic cells and serve as a starting point for a larger effort.