Nucleus is an open platform for synthetic cell development, maintained by b.next. It brings together validated protocols, modular biological components, digital tools, and physical materials — everything you need to start building synthetic cells in one place. Platform tools make it easy to contribute new capabilities back to the distribution, documented for reuse and interoperable with Nucleus specifications.
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Platform¶
The Nucleus platform makes it possible to access tools and workflows, contribute technical content, and engage with members of the Nucleus community.
📖 Documentation
Lab protocols, module specifications, and implementation guides for the Nucleus Distribution.
🔬 Hub
Where Nucleus developers design, analyze, and collaborate.
📝 Developer Notes
Contributions to the Nucleus Platform from labs and developers worldwide.
💬 Forum
Discussions, questions, and announcements from the Nucleus community.
Documentation¶
Nucleus Documentation is the protocol and specification library for the Nucleus Distribution. Here you’ll find validated lab protocols, module specifications, and implementation guides for building synthetic cells using cytosol based on the PURE system. Documentation is built from Developer Notes, the primary mechanism for contributing validated research to the Nucleus Distribution.
What’s in the docs¶
Nucleus Cytosol can be extended with Modules, assembled into Cells using Processes, and combined into Implementations. Supporting resources cover the DNA Distribution, software tools, and guides.
🧱 Modules
Modules extend the functionality of Base Cytosol and Cells.
⚙️ Processes
Processes are core protocols for implementing Base Cytosol and Cells.
🏗️ Implementations
Implementations are useful combinations of Modules and Processes.
🧬 DNA Distribution
Physical materials that are used to implement Processes and Modules.
🛠️ Cell Development Kit
Software tools for working with the Nucleus Distribution. Available via PyPI: pip install nucleus-cdk.
📖 Guides
Tutorials, how-tos, and workshop materials for using the Nucleus Distribution and its digital tools.
Supported by the Astera Institute, National Science Foundation, Schmidt Sciences, and the Sloan Foundation. Contact us to request access to materials or get involved with the community on the Forum.