Artificial cell
Encyclopedia
An artificial cell is a minimal cell
from artificial parts and is an emerging technology. Until recently, most attempts have generally created only a package that can do many things a cell
can do, such as transcribe
and translate
proteins and generate ATP
but not yet a fully operational cell
. Some scientists, one of which is Daniel Hammer have found ways to make artificial cells that can go to certain parts of the body and release medical drugs when told to.
The first artificial cell was created by Thomas Chang
at McGill University
. An artificial cell wall/cell membrane is made of polymersome
s. The hemoglobin
is placed in the center. In the late sixties Thomas Chang discovered that artificial cells could carry enzymes which could correct certain metabolic disorders, and he also developed an artificial cell filled with charcoal which could treat drug poisoning.
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....
from artificial parts and is an emerging technology. Until recently, most attempts have generally created only a package that can do many things a cell
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....
can do, such as transcribe
Transcription (genetics)
Transcription is the process of creating a complementary RNA copy of a sequence of DNA. Both RNA and DNA are nucleic acids, which use base pairs of nucleotides as a complementary language that can be converted back and forth from DNA to RNA by the action of the correct enzymes...
and translate
Translation (genetics)
In molecular biology and genetics, translation is the third stage of protein biosynthesis . In translation, messenger RNA produced by transcription is decoded by the ribosome to produce a specific amino acid chain, or polypeptide, that will later fold into an active protein...
proteins and generate ATP
Adenosine triphosphate
Adenosine-5'-triphosphate is a multifunctional nucleoside triphosphate used in cells as a coenzyme. It is often called the "molecular unit of currency" of intracellular energy transfer. ATP transports chemical energy within cells for metabolism...
but not yet a fully operational cell
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....
. Some scientists, one of which is Daniel Hammer have found ways to make artificial cells that can go to certain parts of the body and release medical drugs when told to.
The first artificial cell was created by Thomas Chang
Thomas Chang
Thomas Ming Swi Chang, is a Canadian physician and scientist.In 1957, while an undergraduate at McGill University he invented the world's first artificial cell...
at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. An artificial cell wall/cell membrane is made of polymersome
Polymersome
In biotechnology, polymersomes are a class of artificial vesicles, tiny hollow spheres that enclose a solution. Polymersomes are made using amphiphilic synthetic block copolymers to form the vesicle membrane, and have radii ranging from 50 nm to 5 µm or more...
s. The hemoglobin
Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin is the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein in the red blood cells of all vertebrates, with the exception of the fish family Channichthyidae, as well as the tissues of some invertebrates...
is placed in the center. In the late sixties Thomas Chang discovered that artificial cells could carry enzymes which could correct certain metabolic disorders, and he also developed an artificial cell filled with charcoal which could treat drug poisoning.
See also
- Artificial Cells, Blood Substitutes, and BiotechnologyArtificial Cells, Blood Substitutes, and BiotechnologyArtificial Cells, Blood Substitutes, and Biotechnology is an academic journal that publishes review articles on the development of artificial cells, tissue engineering, artificial organs, blood substittues, cell therapy, gene and drug delivery systems, bioencapsulation nanosensors, nanodevices and...
(journal) - Synthetic biologySynthetic biologySynthetic biology is a new area of biological research that combines science and engineering. It encompasses a variety of different approaches, methodologies, and disciplines with a variety of definitions...