Why is the minimum unit of life a cell? Building an "RNA world" model protocell using droplet-based microfluidics

Shigeyoshi Matsumura*, Faith M. Coldren, Annick Marin, Ali Fallah-Araghi, Andrew D. Griffiths, Michaël Ryckelynck

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

This paper reports building an experimental model of an "RNA world" protocell using droplet-based microfluidics. The model protocell is much closer to a prebiotic form of life rather than previously reported synthetic cell models [1-3], since it does not contain a complicated cell-free protein expression system. Experimental evolution of this simple model protocell is a powerful model to investigate the role of compartmentalization in early biology. This study experimentally demonstrates that proto-cellular compartments are essential for early life-system evolution.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 16th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, MicroTAS 2012
PublisherChemical and Biological Microsystems Society
Pages166-168
Number of pages3
ISBN (Print)9780979806452
StatePublished - 2012
Event16th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, MicroTAS 2012 - Okinawa, Japan
Duration: 2012/10/282012/11/01

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 16th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, MicroTAS 2012

Conference

Conference16th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, MicroTAS 2012
Country/TerritoryJapan
CityOkinawa
Period2012/10/282012/11/01

Keywords

  • Compartmentalization
  • Droplet-based microfluidics
  • Evolution
  • Model protocell
  • RNA world

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • Bioengineering

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