Build-a-Cell: Engineering a Synthetic Cell Community

Area of Science:

• Synthetic Biology
• Biotechnology
• Cellular Engineering

Background:

• Current research can replicate individual cellular functions.
• Integrating these functions into a single, artificial cell presents a significant scientific challenge.
• A large-scale, collaborative approach is necessary to overcome these integration hurdles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the history, function, and goals of the Build-a-Cell global research network.
• To highlight the potential of synthetic cells to revolutionize the biotechnology industry.
• To discuss the collaborative model required for advancing synthetic cell development.

Main Methods:

• The Build-a-Cell network employs an open, collective research structure.
• It facilitates large-scale collaboration among scientists and engineers.
• The initiative integrates research on individual cellular functions towards a unified synthetic cell.

Main Results:

• The review details the foundational history and operational framework of Build-a-Cell.
• It outlines the network's progress towards the decade-long goal of developing synthetic living cells.
• The potential impact of synthetic cells on biological understanding and the biotech industry is discussed.

Conclusions:

• Build-a-Cell's collaborative model is crucial for achieving the complex goal of synthetic cell creation.
• Synthetic cells promise to significantly advance the understanding of fundamental biology.
• The initiative also addresses critical policy and biosecurity considerations for emerging biotechnologies.