[DIYbio] Cell-Free protein expression

"The ease of implementing protein synthesis and purification at reduced scales, coupled with the constantly decreasing costs of gene synthesis, will expand the reach of cell-free technologies and facilitate its use by small businesses, schools, and enterprising individuals, similar to the now-widespread adoption of additive manufacturing in the Maker community. Comparable to 3D printing, cell-free techniques can accommodate niche and diverse markets due to low start-up costs and decreasing barriers to entry compared to traditional large-scale bioprocesses. As with most democratized technology, there are issues that will need to be addressed regarding regulations, intellectual property, and biosafety; but, many of these issues are already under consideration by the scientific and regulatory communities with regard to synthetic biology."