Machine Learning Optimization of Evolvable Artificial Cells

An evolvable artificial cell is a chemical or biological complex system assembled in laboratory. The system is rationally designed to show life-like properties. In order to achieve an optimal design for the emergence of minimal life, a high dimensional space of possible experimental combinations can be explored. A machine learning approach (Evo-DoE) could be applied to explore this experimental space and define optimal interactions according to a specific fitness function. Herein an implementation of an evolutionary design of experiments to optimize chemical and biochemical systems based on a machine learning process is presented. The optimization proceeds over generations of experiments in iterative loop until optimal compositions are discovered. The fitness function is experimentally measured every time the loop is closed. Two examples of complex systems, namely a liposomal drug formulation and an in vitro cell-free expression system are presented as examples of optimization of molecular interactions in high dimensional space of compositions [1,4]. These represent, for instance, the modules or subsystems that could be optimized by "mixing the protocols" to achieve the high level of sophistication that artificial cells requires. In addition a replication cycle of oil in water emulsions is presented. They represent the container for the artificial cells. (C) Selection and peer-review under responsibility of FET11 conference organizers and published by Elsevier B.V.