Ask HN: Why there are no large scale programs to synthesize a cell?

[callmekit]

Synthesizing a cell/protocell from amino-acids would be one of the greatest scientific achievements. Yet it seems that there are no large programs (comparable to Human Genome Project, for example) to actually achieve this. Wikipedia article on Abiogenesis lists only several smaller experiments. Why is that? Is it considered not feasible with the current state of science and technology?

[jleyank]

Because we have no earthly clue how to create and assemble all of the components of a cell ab initio. We're not really too sure about how proteins fold, we don't really understand what all of the genes and proteins do, ...

Like trying to build a car from ore without accurate plans.

EDIT: Wanna be a hero? How about stable batteries, battery recycling or room-temperature superconductors. All of these are tickets to fame, fortune, ...

[handmodel]

https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2021/07/26/157-...

[callmekit]

Thanks, but on the first glance this doesn't seem to be about bottom-up approach of synthesizing a cell from amino-acids, but about modifying existing cells.

[adastra22]

You are misinformed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_cell

[callmekit]

What exactly are you referring to on that page?