Synthetic cells by the numbers

Summary: Can we build a living cell from non-living molecular components? This foundational question drives the field of synthetic cell engineering, having already reconstituted key cellular processes within synthetic environments, and now advancing toward their integration into systems of increasing complexity. At this stage of gradual complexification, it is essential to construct a general quantitative picture of synthetic cells that can clarify the capabilities and limitations of current systems and help guide future design efforts. Here, we adopt the “by the numbers” approach to provide a quantitative and intuitive overview of synthetic cell properties. Focusing on liposome-based systems, we compile and contextualize numerical estimates from the literature and use them to reason about the structural, biochemical, and functional characteristics of these synthetic constructs. Through this quantitative lens, we aim to highlight both the current performance achieved and the key challenges that remain in the path toward building autonomous synthetic cells.