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A new design for quantum computers

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More efficient electrodes for CO2 recycling

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Safe and affordable red blood cells without donors

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Faculty of Applied Sciences

23 May 2024

Creating life from lifeless biomolecules with AI and lab evolution

“What is life? How does a living cell emerge from lifeless molecules?” wondered a multidisciplinary team of Dutch scientists. To answer these questions the research team, led by the TU Delft, aims to build a living synthetic cell from lifeless biomolecules, using laboratory evolution and artificial intelligence for the first time. The ten-year research programme to do so, entitled “Evolving life from non-life” or simply “EVOLF”, was awarded 40 million euro by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) as part of the Summit grants scheme. Co-applicant Gijsje Koenderink (TU Delft): “It is fascinating, all lifeforms consist of cells, and all cells consist of molecules. Notably, these molecules are not alive, but a cell is. How does a living cell emerge from lifeless molecules? How many components are minimally required and how should they be wired to establish a living cell? These are the big questions we will try to answer in the next ten years.” New approach EVOLF The EVOLF team aims to bridge the gap between non-life and life by building a living synthetic cell from lifeless biomolecules. This approach builds on their earlier pioneering work in biophysics and biochemistry, in which the scientists already created cellular modules for a minimal genome, metabolism, and cell division. This work has laid the foundation for the construction of an actual living synthetic cell. With an entirely new approach that uses artificial intelligence and directed laboratory evolution to accelerate the building of synthetic cells, the team hopes to answer the question of how life works. Main applicant Cees Dekker (TU Delft): “Our dream is to create a living cell from lifeless molecules. Using artificial intelligence, we can scan parameters much more effectively to optimise complex networks of biochemical reactions. Our goal is to integrate cellular functions into one unified synthetic cell that can autonomously replicate, communicate and evolve. In addition, we will intimately connect the scientific work with philosophical and ethical research.” Dekker emphasizes: “In our ‘living lab’, philosophers and humanities scholars will work together with scientists on articulating a new definition of life as well as responsible research guidelines to establish conditions where humans remain in firm control of synthetic life.” Partners consortium EVOLF and Summit grant The EVOLF-consortium consists of scientists of TU Delft, AMOLF, University of Groningen, Radboud University, Wageningen University & Research, Hubrecht Institute, and VU Amsterdam. The Summit grant will allow the consortium to hire 100 PhD students, postdocs, technicians as well as install critical infrastructure and enabling technologies. By realizing the dream of building a synthetic cell, which Dekker calls “one of the grand challenges of this century”, the consortium aims for a breakthrough in the life sciences, on par with discovering the double-helix of DNA or decoding the human genome. More: From quantum to climate: five teams of top scientists receive Summit grant More information Want to know more about living synthetic cell building from lifeless biomolecules? Then feel free to contact: Cees Dekker , c.dekker@tudelft.nl / 06 3036 2478 Gijsje Koenderink , g.h.koenderink@tudelft.nl / 06 4877 5702 Fien Bosman , press officer Health & Care TU Delft – f.j.bosman@tudelft.nl / 06 2495 3733 More about the research of Cees Dekker More about the research of Gijsje Koenderink Prof.dr. C. Dekker C.Dekker@tudelft.nl Prof.Dr. G. Koenderink g.h.koenderink@tudelft.nl

16 May 2024

Gijsje Koenderink appointed as KNAW member

The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) has selected Gijsje Koenderink as new KNAW member. She will join the Academy together with 16 other leading scientists. The new members will be installed on 30 September 2024.

16 May 2024

Cees Dekker wins Sackler Prize

Prof. dr. Cees Dekker wins the Sackler International Prize in Biophysics for his seminal contributions to single-molecule biophysics, including the application of nanotechnology to biological systems, developing single-molecule techniques leading to breakthroughs in DNA and protein sequencing with nanopores, novel insights in DNA-protein interactions and chromosome organisation, and experimental demonstration of DNA loop extrusion predicted by Prof. Mirny, as well as the development of synthetic cells.

15 May 2024

From flocs to granules: new opportunities for wastewater treatment

On 16 May, Viktor Haaksman will defend his doctoral thesis at the Faculty of Applied Sciences at TU Delft. Together with a large public-private consortium, he developed granular sludge technology that allows existing wastewater treatment plants to increase their capacity without large-scale new construction.

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Agenda

May

Doctoral defence A. Zivari

Doctoral defence L.M. Veldman

Doctoral defence R.M.S. Abubakr

Doctoral defence D. Bouwmeester

Doctoral defence T.I. Kuhm

Doctoral defence L. Puiman

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