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Synthetic Biology

Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary science that involves using principles from disciplines such as engineering, molecular biology, cell biology, and systems biology. It involves remodeling existing organisms from nature or constructing completely new synthetic organisms for applications such as protein or enzyme production, bioremediation, value-added macromolecule production, and the addition of desirable traits to crops, to name a few.
Golden rice
Golden rice is a genetically modified...

Binary Fission

Binary Fission

Fission is the division of a single entity into two or more parts, which regenerate into separate entities that resemble the original. Organisms in the Archaea and Bacteria domains reproduce using binary fission, in which a parent cell splits into two parts that can each grow to the size of the original parent cell. This asexual method of reproduction produces cells that are all genetically identical.

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function.
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...

Distribution of Cytoplasmic Content

Distribution of Cytoplasmic Content

Cytokinesis segregates a cell’s chromosomes and organelles into its daughter cells. Organelles divide and grow prior to cell division but cannot be synthesized de novo; therefore, cells must receive at least one copy of each organelle to survive. Currently, many of the details of how the organelles are distributed are not yet fully elucidated.
Distribution of cytoplasmic determinants
The cytoplasm contains various organelles, as well as salts, proteins, and water. The distribution of small...

The Phragmoplast

The Phragmoplast

Cell division is essential for organismal growth and development. In animal cells, the central spindle and its associated proteins form the midbody, a structure that has an essential role in cytokinesis. In plants, the central spindle, along with the microtubules, actin, and other cell components, matures into the phragmoplast, which is necessary for cytokinesis. Unlike the stationary midbody, the phragmoplast expands centrifugally, eventually leading to the formation of the new cell wall.
The...

Mitosis and Cytokinesis

Mitosis and Cytokinesis

In eukaryotes, the cell division cycle is divided into distinct, coordinated cellular processes that include cell growth, DNA replication/chromosome duplication, chromosome distribution to daughter cells, and finally, cell division. The cell cycle is tightly regulated by its regulatory systems as well as extracellular signals that affect cell proliferation.
The processes of the cell cycle occur over approximately 24 hours (in typical human cells) and in two major distinguishable stages. The...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Cell-Free Protein Synthesis System for Building Synthetic Cells

Cell-Free Protein Synthesis System for Building Synthetic Cells

Published on: April 19, 2024

Devising a divisome for synthetic cells.

Joris Dommisse¹, Rafael B Lira¹, Cees Dekker²

¹Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.

Nature Reviews. Chemistry

|July 13, 2026

Summary

Synthetic biology aims to build artificial cells by recreating cell division. Researchers are reviewing methods to mimic key division stages, like site selection and constriction, to create minimal synthetic division systems.

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Area of Science:

Cellular Biology
Synthetic Biology
Biophysics

Background:

Cell division is essential for reproduction, development, and tissue maintenance.
Recreating cell division is a key challenge in bottom-up synthetic biology.
Progress has been made in reconstituting the cell division machinery in vitro.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current strategies for mimicking key cell division stages.
To critically assess the successes and limitations of these approaches.
To discuss the integration of modules for a minimal synthetic division system.

Main Methods:

Review of in vitro reconstitution strategies for the synthetic divisome.
Analysis of methods for symmetry breaking, membrane deformation, and abscission.
Assessment of modular integration for synthetic cell division.

Main Results:

Partial reconstitution of the protein machinery for cell division has been achieved.
Various strategies exist to mimic symmetry breaking, membrane deformation, and abscission.
Integrating multiple modules is a promising direction for functional synthetic division.

Conclusions:

Mimicking cell division stages in vitro is advancing synthetic biology.
Overcoming limitations requires integrating multiple functional modules.
The goal is to realize a minimal, functional division system for synthetic cells.