Keywords
Bottom-up approach, minimal genome, synthetic biology, top-down approach
Definition
A minimal cell is a hypothetical biological system that posses only the necessary and sufficient attributes to be considered alive. Therefore, it must be able to maintain its own structures (homeostasis); self-reproduce; and evolve in a supportive, protected, and stable environment.
Overview
A living cell is, at least, the sum of many essential functions needed for cellular survival and replication. Therefore, even a minimal cell must still retain all essential genes involved in such housekeeping functions, as well as a limited amount of metabolic transactions needed to survive in a nutrient-rich and stable environment. Such set of essential genes is what has been called a minimal genome.
There is no conceptual or experimental support for the existence of oneform of minimal cell since different essential functions can be defined depending on the environmental conditions, and numerous versions...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References and Further Reading
Bersini H (2010) Minimal cell: the computer scientist point of view. In: Gargaud M, Lopez-Garcia P, Martin H (eds) Origin and evolution of life: an astrobiology perspective. Cambridge University Press, Chap 4
Brochier C (2010) Minimal cell: the biologist point of view. In: Gargaud M, Lopez-Garcia P, Martin H (eds) Origin and evolution of Life: an astrobiology perspective. Cambridge University Press, Chap. 3
Deamer D (2005) A giant step towards artificial life? Trends Biotechnol 23:336–338
Feher T, Papp B, Pal C, Posfai G (2007) Systematic genome reductions: theoretical and experimental approaches. Chem Rev 107:3498–3513
Forster AC, Church GM (2006) Towards synthesis of a minimal cell. Mol Syst Biol 2:45
Gil R, Silva FJ, Pereto J, Moya A (2004) Determination of the core of a minimal bacterial gene set. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 68:518–537
Koonin EV (2003) Comparative genomics, minimal gene-sets and the last universal common ancestor. Nat Rev Microbiol 1:127–136
Luisi PL (2007) Chemical aspects of synthetic biology. Chem Biodivers 4:603–621
Moya A, Gil R, Latorre A, Pereto J, Pilar Garcillan-Barcia M, de la Cruz F (2009) Toward minimal bacterial cells: evolution vs. design. FEMS Microbiol Rev 33:225–235
O‘Malley MA, Powell A, Davies JF, Calvert J (2008) Knowledge-making distinctions in synthetic biology. Bioessays 30:57–65
Pereto J, Catala J (2007) The renaissance of synthetic biology. Biol Theor 2:128–130
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this entry
Cite this entry
Gil, R. (2011). Minimal Cell. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11274-4_1000
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11274-4_1000
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-11271-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-11274-4
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics