Albert Libchaber
The Center for Studies in Physics and Biology
The Rockefeller University
Towards and Artificial Cell
We show first how a temperature gradient can lead to giant DNA accumulation by thermophoresis and to DNA sequence amplification in a convection set-up. Non-equilibrium thermodynamics can thus help to solve some nagging problems of critical concentration and sequence selection in a prebiotic soup.
Secondly, we show that a vesicle bioreactor can function for many days in an homeostatic state producing proteins. This is a first necessary step to artificial cells. The next step will be vesicle replication.
Last Updated: Friday, November 4, 2005