https://pages.htgaa.org/2026a/iman-karibzhanova/homework/week-09-hw-cell-free-systems/index.htmlHomework Part A: General and Lecturer-Specific Questions Explain the main advantages of cell-free protein synthesis over traditional in vivo methods, specifically in terms of flexibility and control over experimental variables. Name at least two cases where cell-free expression is more beneficial than cell production. Cell-free protein synthesis provides multiple advantages over traditional methods due to its lack of membrane. You don’t have to cross the membrane, and the cell’s homeostasis controls don’t resist any experimentations. Furthermore, since everything is now a controllable variable, you have better control over composition (such as concentrations) of amino acids, substrates, etc. You also maintain better folding control and template flexibility (since you don’t have to clone into plasmids). Cases where this is beneficial include space travel (since cell-free synthesis allows for freeze-drying, which is more shelf-stable in storage), and anywhere else resources may be limited to run a fermenter (war zones, rural clinics, etc.) Another case is the expression of “unhostable” proteins, which would in other cases, kill its living cell. The cell-free environment means you bypass the actual cell host.Hugoen