Scientists build synthetic cell from scratch that can feed, grow and replicate
The lab-built droplet uses a 36-gene genome and a membrane system to grow, replicate DNA and divide, though it is not yet a living cell.
- Researchers have engineered synthetic, non-living "blobs" using lab-made DNA that successfully demonstrated a complete biological cycle of feeding, growing, and multiplying in a dish.
- Nicknamed "SpudCells," these microscopic artificial entities were assembled from basic chemical compounds and water-filled liposome spheres rather than modifying an existing organism.
- To grow and divide, the synthetic cells absorb surrounding biological molecules and enzymes from a specialized fluid mixture to generate necessary proteins and copy their own genetic code.
- While the breakthrough provides a proof of principle for how primitive life might emerge from basic chemistry, the artificial cells remain fragile and entirely dependent on their laboratory fluid environment.
- The pioneering project leaders intend to use these custom-built cellular structures as an adaptable foundation to design automated biological circuits, test medical models, and eventually develop custom biomanufacturing tools.
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8 Articles
For decades, scientists tried to answer one of the deepest questions of biology: what is the minimal combination of chemical components needed to generate something like life. Now, a team from the University of Minnesota presented a breakthrough that brings them closer to that goal. They built a synthetic cell capable of feeding, growing, copying their genetic material, dividing and transmitting genetic advantages to the next generations.The wor…
Scientists say they have built a cell from scratch for the first time
Scientists say they have built a cell from scratch for the first time that can feed, grow and replicate like a natural cell. This breakthrough in synthetic biology could usher in an era of made-to-order organisms that function like living machines.
For the First Time, a Cell Built From Scratch Grows and Divides
Scientists built a synthetic cell that combines more lifelike properties than ever before — proof of concept that it’s possible to bring nonliving materials to life, or something close to it, in the lab.
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