What is life?
How did it emerge?
Are we alone in the Universe?
To answer these questions, we must first synthesize Life.
In the BoekhovenLab, we combine experiment and theory to build life from the bottom up. We design molecules—such as peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids—that assemble into synthetic cells and replicators. By fueling these systems with chemical reagents and building blocks, we create conditions where synthetic cells compete, replicate, and mutate. Through replication, selection, and variation, we aim to uncover the minimal principles that give rise to life—life as we do not yet know it.
More on our Research Page.
