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Mizuuchi Lab
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How did life begin? The lab builds it up from molecules to find out.
AboutAbout the lab
Recreating the origin of life in the laboratory
The Mizuuchi Lab seeks to answer the question of how life began by experimentally recreating the process through which life arises from simple, nonliving molecules.
Drawing on evolutionary biology, biophysics, and synthetic biology, the lab works on developing and evolving self-replicating molecular systems and protocell models.
In the course of this work, the lab also develops a variety of biotechnologies.
It is a new lab, established in 2023.
Key terms
- RNA world hypothesis
- The idea that the first self-replicator on the primitive Earth was RNA, a nucleic acid molecule
- Experimental evolution
- A method of replicating molecules or organisms in the laboratory over many generations to directly observe how they evolve
- Liquid–liquid phase separation
- A phenomenon in which a mixed liquid separates into two phases. Compartment-like structures can form even without a membrane
NewsLab news
A collaborative study involving Associate Professor Mizuuchi observed evolution heading toward extinction in a molecular evolution experiment that mimics primitive life
An international collaboration including Associate Professor Mizuuchi revealed that how molecules mix and their past states determine their behavior
An international co-authored paper by Associate Professor Mizuuchi was published in Cell Reports Physical Science
An international co-authored paper by Associate Professor Mizuuchi was published in Biophysics and Physicobiology
A student in the lab won a Poster Award at the 50th Scientific Meeting of the Society for the Origin of Life and Astrobiology
ResearchResearch themes
Life is thought to have arisen from nonliving molecules on the primitive Earth about 4 billion years ago, but no trace of that event remains anywhere. To address this mystery of the origin of life, the lab aims to understand it by experimentally recreating the series of steps through which simple molecules evolve into life.
*Illustrative imageExploring primitive self-replicating molecules
The first self-replicator on the primitive Earth is thought to have been RNA, a nucleic acid molecule. By investigating how self-replicating RNA could arise from a disordered soup of organic compounds, attempting to design it rationally, and further evolving it, the lab seeks a direct understanding of the first step in the origin of life.
*Illustrative imageBuilding artificial cells in a test tube
The lab assembles cells with various features from their component parts. In addition to constructing artificial cells in which a genome and proteins are encapsulated in a simple cell model and replicated, it uses liquid–liquid phase separation to make more primitive cells without a cell membrane and studies their characteristics.
*Illustrative imageEvolving protocell models
Using evolving artificial cells, the lab drives molecules to evolve rapidly. The artificial cells contain an RNA genome carrying the information needed for self-replication, and they replicate and evolve on their own when given nutrients. The lab aims to clarify the conditions under which new functions arise and the reasons why evolution sometimes stops.
MembersFaculty
The Mizuuchi Lab consists of the faculty member who leads the lab, graduate students, undergraduate students, and visiting students.As of 2026
- Associate ProfessorRyo Mizuuchi
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Mammoth Terraces” Frank Schulenburg / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Exploring primitive self-replicating molecules: “Molecule display ( )” allispossible.org.uk / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Building artificial cells in a test tube: “Oil and water” neekoh.fi / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Evolving protocell models: “Culture flasks cabinet in MPI-CBG 01” Matylda Sęk / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Takamatsu Lab): “Dictyostelium Late Aggregation 1” Bruno in Columbus / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Okano Lab): “Plastic-compass” Evan-Amos / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Takahiko Lab): “CornstarchCymatics cc” Collin Cunningham / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Iwasaki Lab): “Cyanobacteria 029” Lamiot / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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