Semi-synthetic minimal cells: Biochemical, physical, and technological aspects

The construction of synthetic cells is one of the major goals of bioengineering. The most successful approach consists in the encapsulation of biochemical materials (DNA, RNA, enzymes, etc.) inside lipid vesicles (liposomes), mimicking a cell structure. In this contribution, that also aims at introducing the reader to 'chemical synthetic biology,' we describe the current state of the art of 'semi-synthetic minimal cells' (SSMCs), namely, cell-like structures containing the minimal number of biological compounds that are required to reconstruct a function of interest. We will first describe how the concept of the minimal cell was originated and its relation with the theory of autopoiesis, then we review the most advanced results focused on genetic/metabolic networks inside liposomes. Next, we emphasize that relevance of physical aspects (too often neglected) that impact on the solute entrapment process, and finally we discuss new technological trends in SSMC research that will probably allow their future use in biotechnology. © 2013 Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Progreso técnico y desarrollo socioeconómico en América Latina: análisis general y recomendaciones para una política tecnológica = Technical progress and socio-economic development in Latin America: general analysis and recommendation for a technological policy

Incluye Bibliografía

La industria del aluminio de América Latina y el Caribe: opciones tecnológicas y oportunidades para el crecimiento = The aluminium industry of Latin America and the Caribbean: technological options and opportunities for growth

Incluye Bibliografía

Opciones tecnológicas y oportunidades para el desarrollo: un estudio comparativo entre el aluminio y el estaño = Technological options and opportunities for development: a comparative study between aluminium and tin

Incluye Bibliografía

Report of the Meeting on Technological Options and Opportunities for Development: the Aluminium and Tin Industries in Latin America and the Caribbean = Informe de la Reunión sobre Opciones Tecnológicas y Oportunidades para el Desarrollo: las Industrias del Aluminio y el Estaño en América Latina y el Caribe

Contiene discurso de inauguración, presentación y comentario de los documentos presentados y recomendaciones de la reunión en que se trataron las opciones tecnológicas para el desarrollo de las industrias del aluminio en América Latina y el Caribe.

La sustentabilidad ambiental del desarrollo y el cambio tecnológico en América Latina y el Caribe = The environmental sustainability of development and technological change in Latin America and the Caribbean

Incluye Bibliografía

Transnational corporations and the manufacturing sector in Brazil: technological backwardness in the eighties and signs of an important restructuring in the nineties

Includes bibliography

The tin industry of Latin America: technological options and opportunities for growth

Includes bibliography

Educação tecnológica no ensino de física: análise de uma experiência didática utilizando objetos tecnológicos

Pós-graduação em Educação para a Ciência - FC

Scientific and technological survey in the country during 1981: interviewers manual

Manual del entrevistador de la encuesta a instituciones sobre ciencia y tecnologia.

Technological dimensions of economic diversification and development in the Caribbean with specific reference to the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

Includes bibliography

Adoption and application of information technology in the Caribbean and its contribution to scientific, technological and human resource development

Includes bibliography