Programmable Artificial Cell Evolution
A fascinating nano/bio project currently underway is the Programmable Artificial Cell Evolution project, or PACE, funded by the European Union's Future Emerging Technologies program. PACE cooperates with the Los Alamos Protocell Assembly Project.
The PACE project represents a fascinating merger of biotech, Systems theory, nanotech, and IT. Researchers are looking to build artificial programmable cells for remediation, production, and information processing. These cells are self-replicating, self-contained, and self-sustaining – they maintain homostasis under changing environmental conditions. PNA and catalipids are the molecules used to build these artificial cells. Electronic microfluidic systems are being used to implement the cell's functions. This project sounds so impressive, we can only hope that it might produce a breakthrough that makes news in the near future. Time will tell.