This episode is with Kate Adamala.

She is an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota. Kate is a renowned synthetic biologist and biochemist who has made significant contributions to the field of artificial life. Her research focuses on building synthetic cells, designing artificial genetic circuits, and exploring the origins of life on Earth. In this discussion, we will cover topics related to the first artificial life created in the lab, the creation of synthetic cells, various techniques for constructing artificial life, the origins of life, and the significant applications of synthetic cells.

Guest info:

Website: http://www.protobiology.org/indexd.php

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KateAdamala

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@build-a-cell2765

Episode links:

Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/home/building-life-in-the-lab-with-kate-adamalaYoutube: https://youtu.be/E6-6u1evt60Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1a5BrycZKA9yZhnqweggk6Apple podcast: https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my-podcasts/show/reason-with-science/407cd478-4271-4319-8318-fc378d4e7ccb/episode/building-life-in-the-lab-|-kate-adamala-|-reason-with-science-|-artificial-life-|-origin-of-life/53206ca2-e51f-4753-9778-cc23eafb178cGoogle podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iMjMyNDZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw/episode/MWQwNDI1MGItZDI0Ny00ZjFlLTkwMmItODQ2NzI4OGFhNjFm?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwiY99uFzZn-AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQLA

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:01 First synthetic life at Craig Venter institute

00:03:46 What is a synthetic cell?

00:05:27 Definition of life

00:07:54 Replication of synthetic cells

00:10:00 Meaning of building life in the lab

00:11:22 Properties of biochemistry

00:12:55 Top-down or bottom-up approaches to build synthetic cells

00:14:28 Major components to build a cell

00:15:53 Importance of compartmentalization for synthetic cells

00:17:23 Liquid-liquid phase separation compartments

00:18:36 Requirements for the assembly of synthetic cells

00:20:04 Life from scratch

00:22:05 Information system in the synthetic cells

00:26:25 Genes to replication of the synthetic cells

00:30:11 Life of the synthetic cells

00:30:31 Limiting factors for the growth of synthetic cells

00:31:57 How the compartments are maintained?

00:32:58 Can synthetic cells grow forever?

00:33:51 Size of synthetic cells

00:35:20 Shape of the cells

00:35:49 Transporters in the synthetic cells

00:37:55 Applications of synthetic cells

00:42:20 Synthetic cells to study origin of life

00:43:36 Evolution of protocells

00:46:45 What is missing in building life in the lab?

00:48:12 How the work on synthetic cells can help in astrobiology?

00:49:52 Understanding multicellularity

00:51:07 Work on snowflake yeasts

00:52:17 Studying eukaryogenesis

00:53:01 How can we study evolution (by natural selection) using synthetic cells?

00:54:20 Synthetic cells for the environment

00:56:27 Limits to the biochemistry of synthetic cells

00:58:42 Engineering prosthetic

01:01:07 Viruses and the synthetic cells

01:02:27 Replication competent viruses

01:03:40 Alternatives of metabolism and biochemistry of synthetic cells

01:07:13 Yields from synthetic cells

01:09:22 Build-a-cell initiative

01:12:55 Major questions in the build-a-cell community

01:15:21 Further reading

01:16:54 Thank you!