gewone vergadering - Bataafsch Genootschap

GEWONE VERGADERING
DER LEDEN VAN HET
BATAAFSCH GENOOTSCHAP DER PROEFONDERVINDELIJKE WIJSBEGEERTE
TE ROTTERDAM
OP MAANDAG 1 MEI 2017 TE 20.00 UUR
In de zaal SH 2 van het Raadhuis
(ingang B via poort)
Spreker: Dr. Christophe Danelon
TU Delft, Bionanoscience Department
ONDERWERP :
“Building a synthetic Cell”
The long-term goal of our lab is to construct a cell - the basic unit of life - starting from separate
biochemical building blocks. Inspired from various modern organisms and viruses, we are trying to
recapitulate the essential biological functions of a living cell in vitro. The core architecture of our
synthetic cell consists of a lipid vesicle compartment containing the machinery to convert a DNA
program into messenger RNAs and proteins. Based on this scaffold, we aim at reconstituting four
cellular modules: genomic DNA replication, compartment growth through lipid synthesis, vesicle
division, and replication of the protein synthesis machinery. I will present our results on these
different fronts and will discuss the challenges to integrate these four modules into a functioning
synthetic cell model capable to self-reproduce and evolve.
This research is primarily curiosity driven. However, the creation of an artificial cell will not only
revolutionize our understanding of life's fundamental nature; it will also open a new era for
biotechnological and medical applications.
More on the subject: http://christophedanelonlab.tudelft.nl/