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Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate to respond to the environment.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

A Multilayer Microfluidic Platform for the Conduction of Prolonged Cell-Free Gene Expression

A Multilayer Microfluidic Platform for the Conduction of Prolonged Cell-Free Gene Expression

Published on: October 6, 2019

Engineering of synthetic intercellular communication systems.

William Bacchus¹, Martin Fussenegger

¹ETH Zurich, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland.

Metabolic Engineering

|December 19, 2012

Summary

Synthetic biology is moving beyond single cells to multicellular networks. This approach uses specialized cells communicating with each other for complex biological engineering tasks.

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Published on: August 30, 2007

Area of Science:

Synthetic Biology
Genetic Engineering
Cellular Engineering

Background:

Single-cell genetic circuits face capacity limitations.
Synthetic biology advances enable complex gene expression control.
Multicellular approaches offer solutions to single-cell limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advances in multicellular synthetic biology.
To highlight the development of intercellular communication devices.
To discuss the potential of engineered multicellular consortia.

Main Methods:

Engineering specialized cells for specific functions.
Developing synthetic intercellular communication mechanisms.
Integrating engineered cells into multicellular consortia.
Reviewing applications in bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells.

Main Results:

Demonstration of novel devices for intercellular communication.
Creation of multicellular consortia with unprecedented functions.
Successful engineering of synthetic biology devices across diverse cell types.
Overcoming single-cell capacity limitations through cell specialization.

Conclusions:

Multicellular synthetic biology offers a powerful platform for complex biological systems.
Intercellular communication is key to unlocking higher-order cellular networks.
This approach has significant potential for future synthetic biology applications and clinical translation.