Bottom–Up Protocell Design: Gaining Insights in the Emergence of Complex Functions

All contemporary living cells are a collection of self-assembled molecular elements that by themselves are
non-living but through the creation of a network exhibit the emergent properties of self-maintenance, selfreproduction,
and evolution. Protocells are chemical systems that should mimic cell behavior and their
emergent properties through the interactions of their components. For a functional protocell designed
bottom-up, three fundamental elements are required: a compartment, a reaction network, and an
information system. Even if the functions of protocell components are very simplified compared to those
of modern cells, realizing a system with true inter-connection and inter-dependence of all the functions
should lead to emergent properties. However, none of the currently studied systems have yet reached the
threshold level necessary to be considered alive. This chapter will discuss the on-going research that aims
at creating artificial cells assembled from a collection of smaller components, i.e., protocell systems from
bottom-up designs.