How does a cell know what to make?

DNA gives instructions that tell the cell how to put together its proteins; it specifies what building blocks make up different proteins, and in what order they should be assembled. Think of it as a blueprint for how proteins should be made.

Can we make a human cell?

So far, no completely artificial cell capable of self-reproduction has been synthesized using the molecules of life, and this objective is still in a distant future although various groups are currently working towards this goal.

How does a cell know what DNA to use?

Genes have instructions for building proteins. Polymerases are proteins that simply copy DNA sequences into RNA. Transcription factors help tell the polymerases what segments of DNA to read. Promoters help transcription factors know which genes to regulate.

How does a cell know where it is?

In tissues, cells travel through microscopic scaffolding, called the extracellular matrix (ECM), changing their shapes and following tracts in a seemingly purposeful way. Wittmann has just made a key discovery of a molecular process that is a lynchpin in permitting the directional movement of cells.

What is a human cell made of?

A cell consists of a nucleus and cytoplasm and is contained within the cell membrane, which regulates what passes in and out. The nucleus contains chromosomes, which are the cell’s genetic material, and a nucleolus, which produces ribosomes.

What are cells made up of?

All cells are made from the same major classes of organic molecules: nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids.

How do cells know where they are?

In the microscopic world of cells, where measurements of position typically are made over spans of a few hundred micrometers or less (Fig. 1), the things that most readily cross such distances are molecules, and the simplest way they do so is by aqueous diffusion.