Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
08:28
Hollow Fiber Bioreactors for In Vivo-like Mammalian Tissue Culture
Published on: May 26, 2016
Towards the engineering of in vitro systems
1Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basle, Switzerland.
Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
|May 29, 2009
Summary
Synthetic biology aims to build biological systems. In vitro systems, though simpler, present design challenges, but offer a path toward engineering living organisms.
Area of Science:
- Synthetic biology
- Biochemistry
- Systems engineering
Background:
- Engineering complex living systems from scratch is challenging due to incomplete understanding of cellular processes.
- In vitro systems offer a simplified, more accessible platform for biological design and analysis compared to whole cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the utility of in vitro systems as a stepping stone for synthetic biology.
- To identify challenges and opportunities in rationally designing biological systems.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of simplified in vitro systems, such as enzymatic reaction networks (e.g., glycolysis).
- Chemical and mathematical analysis of system perturbations.
- Evaluation of design parameter accessibility and system invariance.
Main Results:
- In vitro systems, despite their simplicity, still pose significant design challenges.
- Lack of comprehensive enzyme kinetics and design parameter knowledge hinders rational design.
- In vitro systems provide a tractable environment to overcome these obstacles.
Conclusions:
- In vitro systems are crucial for developing rational design principles in synthetic biology.
- Overcoming challenges in in vitro system design paves the way for engineering more complex living systems.
- Simplified biological systems are essential for advancing the field of synthetic biology.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Upstream Processing
Upstream processing represents a critical phase in biomanufacturing, wherein biological systems such as microorganisms, mammalian cells, or insect cells are cultivated to produce therapeutic proteins, vaccines, enzymes, or other biologically derived products. This phase encompasses all steps from the selection and genetic manipulation of the production organism to the cultivation of cells in bioreactors under tightly controlled environmental conditions.Host Selection and Genetic OptimizationThe...
01:16In-vitro Mutagenesis
To learn more about the function of a gene, researchers can observe what happens when the gene is inactivated or “knocked out,” by creating genetically engineered knockout animals. Knockout mice have been particularly useful as models for human diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes.
01:16In vitro Mutagenesis
To learn more about the function of a gene, researchers can observe what happens when the gene is inactivated or “knocked out,” by creating genetically engineered knockout animals. Knockout mice have been particularly useful as models for human diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes.