Building life in the lab
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This episode is with Kate Adamala. She is an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota. Kate is a renowned synthetic biologist and biochemist who has made significant contributions to the field of artificial life. Her research focuses on building synthetic cells, designing artificial genetic circuits, and exploring the origins of life on Earth. In this discussion, we will cover topics related to the first artificial life created in the lab, the creation of synthetic cells, various techniques for constructing artificial life, the origins of life, and the significant applications of synthetic cells.
About the guest
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:01 First synthetic life at Craig Venter institute
00:03:46 What is a synthetic cell?
00:05:27 Definition of life
00:07:54 Replication of synthetic cells
00:10:00 Meaning of building life in the lab
00:11:22 Properties of biochemistry
00:12:55 Top-down or bottom-up approaches to build synthetic cells
00:14:28 Major components to build a cell
00:15:53 Importance of compartmentalization for synthetic cells
00:17:23 Liquid-liquid phase separation compartments
00:18:36 Requirements for the assembly of synthetic cells
00:20:04 Life from scratch
00:22:05 Information system in the synthetic cells
00:26:25 Genes to replication of the synthetic cells
00:30:11 Life of the synthetic cells
00:30:31 Limiting factors for the growth of synthetic cells
00:31:57 How the compartments are maintained?
00:32:58 Can synthetic cells grow forever?
00:33:51 Size of synthetic cells
00:35:20 Shape of the cells
00:35:49 Transporters in the synthetic cells
00:37:55 Applications of synthetic cells
00:42:20 Synthetic cells to study origin of life
00:43:36 Evolution of protocells
00:46:45 What is missing in building life in the lab?
00:48:12 How the work on synthetic cells can help in astrobiology?
00:49:52 Understanding multicellularity
00:51:07 Work on snowflake yeasts
00:52:17 Studying eukaryogenesis
00:53:01 How can we study evolution (by natural selection) using synthetic cells?
00:54:20 Synthetic cells for the environment
00:56:27 Limits to the biochemistry of synthetic cells
00:58:42 Engineering prosthetic
01:01:07 Viruses and the synthetic cells
01:02:27 Replication competent viruses
01:03:40 Alternatives of metabolism and biochemistry of synthetic cells
01:07:13 Yields from synthetic cells
01:09:22 Build-a-cell initiative
01:12:55 Major questions in the build-a-cell community
01:15:21 Further reading
01:16:54 Thank you!