Research on the relationship between gene regulation and cell physiology has a long history, from Jacques Monod’s studies on genetic control to today’s whole-cell simulations using a more systemic approach. Synthetic biology has enriched this field of research by engineering circuits that decouple growth from protein production, minimize production and metabolic burden, or leverage resource competition as a regulatory mechanism.

More recently, cell-free systems have emerged as powerful tools in synthetic biology for studying and constructing genetic circuits. They provide unique advantages: an open system, rapid reactions, decoupling regulatory effects, more precise control over composition, absence of mutations, and are easier to manipulate for automation. For example, combining cell-free technology with machine learning and iterative engineering enables optimization of protein production and exploration of fundamental processes.

My presentation will focus on developing this technology to express complete genomes, identify new regulatory targets in both model and non-model bacteria, and explore the future development of artificial cells.