The Cellular Chassis as the Basis for New Functionalities: Shortcomings and Requirements

Abstract

By default synthetic biology refers to construction of synthetic genetic programs. Yet, programs must be expressed within a machine, and the elusive but multipurpose "chassis" is usually taken for granted. The program replicates while the chassis reproduces, showing that maturation, ageing and senescence are core processes which must be taken into account in order to explore realistic outcomes. Functional analysis reveals the essential functions that we need to consider. Some are listed in the present chapter, with emphasis on the role of information recruitment. This is a built-in process of living organisms whose outcome is the production of an ever young progeny as a way to cope with ageing and senescence. Life innovates using Maxwell's demons-like nanomachines. This is at odds with standard engineering practices, opening up new perspectives for synthetic biology.

From Analog to Digital Computing: Is Homo sapiens’ Brain on Its Way to Become a Turing Machine?

“…This is very similar to the way physics describes states as specific energy levels, for example (and this can be seen when an atom is illuminated, in the form of optically detected lines, which allows researchers to characterize the nature of that particular atom). However, because this oversimplified vision overlooks the analog dimension of computation, it omits taking into account material processes, such as aging for example, which requires specific maintenance steps involving specific functions that are rarely considered in digital machines [see (Danchin, 2015) and note that, in computers, processors also do age indeed, with important consequences on the computing speed and possibly accuracy (Gabbay and Mendelson, 2021)].…”