Current directions in synthetic cell research

The construction of synthetic cells of minimal complexity is today one of the most attractive and challenging goals in synthetic biology. Synthetic cells are assembled by combining the methods of liposome technology and microfluidics, and components of cell-free systems. In this contribution, we will shortly illustrate the state-of-the-art of synthetic cell research; next we will present some current trends and scenarios, that could lead to a qualitative jump in the next years. In particular, we will focus on the construction of novel multi-compartment vesicles, the achieving of new functions via the reconstitution membrane-bound proteins, the shift from the isolated cell—to the cell population/community perspective, the exploitation of chemical signalling, and the integration of stochastic mathematical models. The ambitious goal of approaching embodied and minimal cognition from this experimental perspective is also shortly mentioned.