Abstract: Artificial cells are artificial organisms with similar cell structure and function. As a simplified living body, artificial cells not only have some characteristics of natural cells such as metabolism and reproduction, but also have the cell behavior and function of phagocytosis and intercellular communication similar to living cells. Simulating the structure and function of cells, simplifing the complex structure and function of cells and building specific structure and function of artificial cells are the current research hotspot. Researchers use top-down and bottom-up methods to construct artificial cells. In the top-down method, biological methods are used to redesign existing biological or gene sequences, eliminate unwanted genes, and obtain artificial cells with similar cell functions. In the bottom-up methods, artificial modules of non-biological ingredients are used as raw materials to build biological systems. Based on the operability and designability of industrial modules, the bottom-up approach is used to construct artificial cells with simple operations and good repeatability. The top-down and bottom-up approaches are veviewed for artificial cells, and the compartmentalization, growth and division, information processing, and energy supply systems of artificial are summarized and analyzed cells in the bottom-up approach.

Key words: artificial cell, top-down approach, bottom-up approach, cell structure, cell function