| Time: | June 5, 2025, 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
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| Venue: | University of Stuttgart, Kepler street. 17, K2, Lecture Hall 17.02 |
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What is life—and is it possible to create it artificially?
These fundamental questions lie at the heart of synthetic biology, an interdisciplinary field at the crossroads of biology, chemistry, and physics. This lecture offers insights into current approaches of transforming non-living matter into systems that exhibit characteristics of living organisms. What are the minimum requirements a molecular assembly must meet in order to be considered "alive"?
A key focus is the investigation of the so-called RNA world hypothesis, which suggests that early life forms were based on RNA molecules capable of both storing genetic information and catalyzing chemical reactions. One of the major milestones in synthetic biology is the creation of so-called protocells—simple, synthetically produced compartments that serve as models for primitive, cell-like structures. These could allow researchers to replicate essential life processes, such as replication or energy conversion, under controlled conditions.
This research not only opens up new possibilities for designing novel life-like systems but also deepens our understanding of the nature of life itself and its possible origins—whether on Earth or on distant exoplanets.