Darwinian Chemical Systems

通过化学键中心（CBC）第一阶段第二阶段的奖励，化学部门和数学和物理科学理事会多学科活动办公室共同支持马萨诸塞州总医院的Jack W. Szostak、佛罗里达大学的Steven A. Benner和Scripps研究所的Gerald F. Joyce的研究。这个CBC将追求合成人工化学系统的长期目标，将展示达尔文的进化。在项目的第一阶段，将使用分子设计和实验室选择相结合的方法来产生具有遗传突变的自我繁殖的rna样结构。CBC将利用Benner的合成有机技术，Joyce在rna样系统方面的专业知识，以及Szostak在体外进化实验设计方面的经验，进行高度合作。达尔文化学系统的合成将构成合成生物学的基础，它具有利用制备化学工具构建自我复制系统的潜力。该计划在化学和生物学的界面将为学生提供广泛的跨学科培训，并有望抓住公众的想象力。化学键合中心旨在集中创新的合作努力，解决一个“大问题”，这将导致化学或化学与其他科学的界面的重大进展，并有可能吸引广泛的科学和公众的兴趣。

With this Chemical Bonding Center (CBC) Phase I, Step II award, the Division of Chemistry and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate jointly support the research of Jack W. Szostak, of Massachusetts General Hospital, Steven A. Benner, of the University of Florida, and Gerald F. Joyce, of the Scripps Research Institute. This CBC will pursue the long-term goal of synthesizing artificial chemical systems that will exhibit Darwinian evolution. In phase I of the project, a combination of molecular design and laboratory selection will be used to generate RNA-like structures that undergo self-reproduction with heritable mutation. The CBC will utilize the synthetic organic skills of Benner, the expertise in RNA-like systems of Joyce, and the experience of Szostak in the design of in vitro evolution experiments in this highly collaborative endeavor. The synthesis of Darwinian chemical systems will form the basis of a synthetic biology that has the potential of constructing self-replicating systems using the tools of preparative chemistry. This program at the interface of chemistry and biology will provide broad interdisciplinary training for students and is expected to capture the imagination of the public.Chemical Bonding Centers are designed to focus innovative collaborative efforts that address a "big problem" which will lead to a major advance in chemistry or at the interface of chemistry and other sciences and will have the potential to attract broad scientific and public interest.