Artificial Cells Are Now Able to Mimic Natural Cell Movement

Synthetic cells are used in laboratory settings but don't have all the characteristics of living cells, limiting research. Cell motility was hard to research due to surface enzyme activity, but a new method was discovered that allowed the synthetic cell to actively move. They investigated how ATPase can propel the protocells. ATPase is an enzyme that converts ATP into ADP. In this experiment, the protocells had artificial membranes composed of phosphatidylcholine and the ATPase enzymes were incorporated directly into the membrane. This discovery allows for the first step to be made for other researchers to make artificial cells with enzymatic activity. Research showed that movement for the cells was low for low amounts of ATP but movement also dropped for too much ATP, which was surprising. The researchers concluded that a high ATP concentration would bind to the ATPase and suppress ATP activity and lowering motility. This research allows for new opportunities to understand more about the mechanisms of movements for cells. This will have a huge role on new medical research.

I feel like we always think that science as come so far and that there isn't much else to discover, but this just shows how much we still don't understand. Just trying to replicate a living cell is so complicated and we're finally one step closer to making them act more like natural cells. It's amazing how new discoveries like this are able to open up even more doors. Hopefully this research will help with new medical breakthroughs in the future.

Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191205155318.htm

Related Link: https://news.psu.edu/story/600705/2019/12/05/research/artificial-cells-act-more-real-thing

Sequencing Genomes to Live Longer

Andrew Pollack's article in The New York Times on March 4, 2014, discussed the large goals of Dr. J Craig Venter. Dr. Venter is a wealthy entrepreneur who wants to use the sequencing of genomes in order for people to live longer lives. He began Human Longevity, a company that will be processing 40,000 human genomes a year. He hopes that by using these genome sequences, and other parts of a person's DNA, he can learn more about age related diseases and how to prevent or cure them. His original company, Synthetic Genomics, develops new genomic based solutions for global problems. Dr. Venter claims to have made the first synthetic cell and tied with Human Genome Project to sequence the first human genome. He is not the only scientist trying to sequence large amounts of genomes to learn more about diseases. It has just been reported that a genetic study of 150,000 people resulted in the discovery of a mutation that reduces the risk of getting Type 2 diabetes. The cost to sequence one human genome will cost about $1,000 with the New X Ten System. Dr. Venter wants to sequence genomes from a large variety of people. He also wants to sequence people's microbiomes and measure chemicals in the bloodstream. Many scientists have praised Dr. Venter for his ambitious efforts in breakthrough science. He hopes to have enough funding so that Human Longevity will eventually be able to sequence 100,000 genomes a year along with their other studies.

A scientist at Dr. Venter's Synthetic Genomics prepares a sample of microorganisms. 

Dr. Venter has an impressive list of accomplishments and his goals are ambitious but possible. It his hard to argue with what he has done and what he is planning on doing. He does not want to make people live forever,  he just wants to give them a healthier life allowing them to live longer. He needs a lot of funding in order to sequence human genomes, but if his results enable diseases to be cured or prevented then all the money would have been well spent.