The DOI matches its Crossref record; 214 of the 214 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Progress Toward Synthetic Cells
Abstract
The complexity of even the simplest known life forms makes efforts to synthesize living cells from inanimate components seem like a daunting task. However, recent progress toward the creation of synthetic cells, ranging from simple protocells to artificial cells approaching the complexity of bacteria, suggests that the synthesis of life is now a realistic goal. Protocell research, fueled by advances in the biophysics of primitive membranes and the chemistry of nucleic acid replication, is providing new insights into the origin of cellular life. Parallel efforts to construct more complex artificial cells, incorporating translational machinery and protein enzymes, are providing information about the requirements for protein-based life. We discuss recent advances and remaining challenges in the synthesis of artificial cells, the possibility of creating new forms of life distinct from existing biology, and the promise of this research for gaining a deeper understanding of the nature of living systems.
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Cited by
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Metadata
- Authors
- Blain, J. C., & Szostak, J. W.
- Venue
- Annual Review of Biochemistry
- Publisher
- Annual Reviews
- Published
- 2014-06-02
- Volume
- 83
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 615-640
- ISSN
- 0066-4154 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-4509
- OpenAlex
- W2115420263
- Cited by
- 317
- References
- 214
- FWCI
- 2.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
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Contains information from the Semantic Scholar Academic Graph Datasets, made available under the ODC Attribution License (ODC-BY 1.0).
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