We are not able to resolve this OAI Identifier to the repository landing page. If you are the repository manager for this record, please head to the Dashboard and adjust the settings.
The bottom-up construction of synthetic cells is one of the most intriguing and interesting research
arenas in synthetic biology. Synthetic cells are built by encapsulating biomolecules inside lipid vesi-
cles (liposomes), allowing the synthesis of one or more functional proteins. Thanks to the in situ
synthesized proteins, synthetic cells become able to perform several biomolecular functions, which
can be exploited for a large variety of applications. This paves the way to several advanced uses of
synthetic cells in basic science and biotechnology, thanks to their versatility, modularity, biocom-
patibility, and programmability. In the previous WIVACE (2012) we presented the state-of-the-art
of semi-synthetic minimal cell (SSMC) technology and introduced, for the first time, the idea of
chemical communication between synthetic cells and natural cells. The development of a proper syn-
thetic communication protocol should be seen as a tool for the nascent field of bio/chemical-based
Information and Communication Technologies (bio-chem-ICTs) and ultimately aimed at building
soft-wet-micro-robots. In this contribution (WIVACE, 2013) we present a blueprint for realizing this
project, and show some preliminary experimental results. We firstly discuss how our research goal
based on the natural capabilities of biological systems to manipulate chemical signals finds a proper
place in the current scientific and technological contexts. Then, we shortly comment on the experi-
mental approaches from the viewpoints of (i) synthetic cell construction, and (ii) bioengineering of
microorganisms, providing up-to-date results from our laboratory. Finally, we shortly discuss how
autopoiesis can be used as a theoretical framework for defining synthetic minimal life and minimal
cognition, as well as a bridge between synthetic biology and artificial intelligence
Is data on this page outdated, violates copyrights or anything else? Report the problem now and we will take corresponding actions after reviewing your request.