Our bodies, and all living things, are made up of cells. These tiny natural machines can do amazing things - they can make new molecules, sense the world around them and even transform energy into useful fuels! Scientists at the University of Cambridge study cells to understand how they work. They can also engineer cells to do new and useful things.
Explore our interactive guide above to find out how Cambridge researchers are engineering cells for a better future. Scroll down for a text version of this content.
Cells to make green energy
Scientists can engineer cells to produce and store green energy and to make more sustainable fuels.
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Examples of this include microbial fuel cells and 'biobatteries' to convert and store energy. They also include making biofuels and producing green energy using 'synthetic or semi-synthetic photosynthesis'.
At the University of Cambridge, scientists in Erwin Reisner's lab are using cells as biological machines for sustainable chemistry. They provide the cells with solar energy to create new clean fuels and chemicals than can currently not be made synthetically.
Cells to make food
Scientists can grow cells in bioreactors to make food. This is known as 'cellular agriculture'. Cellular agriculture can use cells from animals, plants, bacteria, yeast or algae. It can be used to make food for humans and for other animals.
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Examples of this include growing algae as a nutritious food ingredient, and growing meat cells without having to farm animals ('cultured meat').
At the University of Cambridge, the Alternative Protein Society is connecting researchers and local businesses interested in this area.
Cells to treat diseases
Scientists can alter human cells to help treat diseases such as cancer, dementia and sickle cell disease.
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An example of this is CAR-T therapy. This involves editing a patient's immune cells to target cancer cells. The cells are then put back into the patient's bloodstream to find and attack cancer cells. CAR-T therapy was first used in 2017 and the NHS use it to treat some types of leukaemia and lymphoma cancers.
At the University of Cambridge, scientists in Mike Chapman's lab are studying how to make CAR-T therapy better.
Headline Image
Illustration of the inside of an animal cell next to text reading "Cambridge Festival. Cellular Machines" and the EngBio IRC and SynBioSoc logos
Credit: CC BY-SA 2.0 Tomáš Kebert, umimeto.org. Adapted by Stephanie Norwood
Title: Cellular Machines