Part 2 ： Basic Parts Needed to Create an Artificial CellGu Yan

What parts are needed to build the minimum machinery of a cell?

• Artificial cell is like a car,in order to get it running the basic components are required.

• Cells are the basic structure and functional unit found in oroganisms. In order for a cell to work the basic components that provide sturcture and function are needed.

• Artificial cell plays an important role in potentially solving global issues of reproduction, disease control, and anti-aging

questions

q1 What parts are needed to build the minimum machinery of a cell?

q2 How do you build this machinery, and how do you tell whether the synthetic cell works?

genome

picture via Plociam

q1:What parts are needed to build the minimum machinery of a cell?

• There are various cell types(prokaryote,animal, and plant), despite carrying different components. In general,most of them share the same function.

• In order to build a cell with minimum machinery• First, the genetic compartment of the cell. For a cell to function,rep

licate and reproduce,genetic information is vital. The genome is the full site of all the chromosomes in an organism,and the basic genetic material inside a cell. furthermore, Chromatin are fibres that contain DNA,RNA,and protein that makes up the chrromosomes.

q1:What parts are needed to build the minimum machinery of a cell?

• DNA and RNA both carry genetic information, but they are different• DNA is a double stranded structure molecule. DNA also known as deoxyri

bonucleic acid, it contains deoxyribonucleic sugar• RNA is a single stranded structure molecule. RNA also known as ribonucle

ic acid, and it contains sugar ribose.• They carry out different tasks• DNA stores and transfers genetic information • RNA codes and express genetic informations in the cell, and communicate

s between DNA and ribosomes to create proteins.• Scientists use artificial gene synthesis in the creation of an artificial cell , fu

rthermore,it must need an organelle for protein synthesis.

q1:What parts are needed to build the minimum machinery of a cell?

• Plasma membranes are selectively permeable veil that are located at the surfaces of cells, and they are the gate keepers of the interior to the outside environment. Plasma membranes choose what to go in and out the cell.

• Plasma membranes protect cell from harmful substance from the outside environment, and allow beneficial substance to enter the cell to stay healthy.

• when building artificial cells, plasma membrane is crucially important, and they can be created by lipid membranes, simple polymers, crosslinked proteins or polymer-lipid complexes. For "performance add-ons" the outside layer can be coated with different proteins for various functions

q1:What parts are needed to build the minimum machinery of a cell?

• Cytoplasmpicture via Sarah Friedl

q1:What parts are needed to build the minimum machinery of a cell? • Cytoplasm is in every cell, and it is a dense fluid. It is there mainly f

or protective and strucutural purpose. Cytoplasma has strands of protein that can hold internal parts in position.

• When creating an artificial cell, dense fluid such as serums, distilled water can replace cytoplasm

• Cell wall(plant,fungus) or Membrana cellularis( animal) are needed to provide the whole basic structure

Q2 How do you build this machinery, and how do you tell whether the s

ynthetic cell works? • In order to build the artificial cell, the parts listed in part 1 must be c

reated and functional.• first provide the environment from part1 provide basic nutrition and

and serum.• 1 artificial gene synthesis method to create a DNA molecule that p

otentially later develop into chromosome.• 2. the plasma membrane can be created by lipid membranes• 3 cell wall can also made by polymers and lipid membranes• 4 dense liquid is shot into the cell • 5 the genetic information（ dna molecules） is then injected into

the cell

Q2 How do you build this machinery, and how do you tell whether the synthetic cell works?

• To examine whether the synthetic cell works• we can observe the cell under microscope to check if the cell is P

hagocytosing, and when the cell have the ability to reproduce, then it means the synthetic cell is functional.

• The cell must obtain structural and protective shell for the the internal compartments. The cell should be able to complete basic functions absorbs nutrients, removing waste, and the abilityreplicate.

• There is a dye test to check the status of the cell. If the cell is alive the color will not show, on the contrary, you will be able to see the dead cells covered in color

references

• http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/resources/whats_a_genome/Chp1_2_1.shtml

• Genome news network• DNA versus RNA • By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.• Freeman, Harrington and Joan Sharp. Biological Science, Second

Canadian Edition.

• New Jersey: Pearson, 2014. Print.