CAS launches intl. synthetic cells program in city

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China's top natural sciences institution, announced Monday that it has launched an international synthetic cell program in Shenzhen to promote cutting-edge research in life sciences and biotechnological innovation.

A poster for the SynCell Global Summit 2024. The Chinese Academy of Sciences announced the launch of an international synthetic cell program in Shenzhen during the summit Monday. cctv.com

Leveraging the scientific expertise of the CAS Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, the program aims to address groundbreaking research questions in the field of synthetic biology, gather global expertise, and establish a cooperative model to tackle common challenges facing humanity, according to CAS.

Synthetic biology is the science of building systems that mimic the structure and function of living cells from scratch. Researchers combine tools from chemistry, materials science, and biochemistry to develop functional and structural building blocks for constructing synthetic cell-like systems.

In recent years, CAS has been committed to international collaborations in the field of synthetic cells.

In October 2023, the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, together with universities and research institutions from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, established the Asian alliance for synthetic cells. A memorandum of cooperation was signed in April to lay the foundation for broader international collaborative relationships. (Xinhua)