Jump-starting life? Fundamental aspects of synthetic biology

J Cell Biol. 2015 Aug 31;210(5):687-90. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201506125.

Abstract

What is life and how could it originate? This question lies at the core of understanding the cell as the smallest living unit. Although we are witnessing a golden era of the life sciences, we are ironically still far from giving a convincing answer to this question. In this short article, I argue why synthetic biology in conjunction with the quantitative sciences may provide us with new concepts and tools to address it.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bioengineering / methods
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Cell Biology*
  • Cell Division / physiology
  • Origin of Life*
  • Synthetic Biology*
  • Systems Biology*