Ask HN: Why there are no large scale programs to synthesize a cell?

1 pointscallmekit3y ago5 comments

Synthesizing a cell/protocell from amino-acids would be one of the greatest scientific achievements. Yet it seems that there are no large programs (comparable to Human Genome Project, for example) to actually achieve this. Wikipedia article on Abiogenesis lists only several smaller experiments. Why is that? Is it considered not feasible with the current state of science and technology?

5 comments

jleyank3y ago

Because we have no earthly clue how to create and assemble all of the components of a cell ab initio. We're not really too sure about how proteins fold, we don't really understand what all of the genes and proteins do, ...

Like trying to build a car from ore without accurate plans.

EDIT: Wanna be a hero? How about stable batteries, battery recycling or room-temperature superconductors. All of these are tickets to fame, fortune, ...

handmodel3y ago

https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2021/07/26/157-...

callmekitOP3y ago

Thanks, but on the first glance this doesn't seem to be about bottom-up approach of synthesizing a cell from amino-acids, but about modifying existing cells.

adastra223y ago

You are misinformed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_cell

callmekitOP3y ago

What exactly are you referring to on that page?

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Ask HN: Why there are no large scale programs to synthesize a cell?

1 pointscallmekit3y ago5 comments

5 comments

jleyank3y ago

Like trying to build a car from ore without accurate plans.

EDIT: Wanna be a hero? How about stable batteries, battery recycling or room-temperature superconductors. All of these are tickets to fame, fortune, ...

handmodel3y ago

https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2021/07/26/157-...

callmekitOP3y ago

Thanks, but on the first glance this doesn't seem to be about bottom-up approach of synthesizing a cell from amino-acids, but about modifying existing cells.

adastra223y ago

You are misinformed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_cell

callmekitOP3y ago

What exactly are you referring to on that page?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse