gewone vergadering - Bataafsch Genootschap
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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/
