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Scientists Create 'Alive-Like' Cell from Chemicals
1 Jul
Summary
- SpudCell, a synthetic cell, eats, grows, and reproduces.
- It's the first bottom-up synthetic cell to complete a life cycle.
- SpudCell requires external proteins to survive and reproduce.
A groundbreaking synthetic cell, dubbed SpudCell, has been engineered by researchers at the University of Minnesota. Created entirely from lifeless chemicals in a lab, SpudCell mimics many functions of living cells, including consumption, growth, and reproduction.
This innovative creation is notable as the first synthetic cell developed from the ground up to successfully complete a full life cycle, from its initial construction to division into subsequent generations. It represents a pared-down model of a cell, illuminating the essential genetic and structural elements required for life.
While SpudCell exhibits behaviors associated with life, such as feeding, growing, and replicating its genome, scientists do not claim it is alive. The cell is not self-sufficient; it depends on external proteins and enzymes for survival because it cannot produce its own ribosomes, limiting its lineage to approximately five to ten generations.
This research builds upon decades of work in "minimal cells," synthetic cells designed with only the most basic life-sustaining components. Understanding these fundamental mechanisms of life holds potential for advancements in medical research, space exploration, and other scientific fields. Future work aims to enable SpudCell to build its own ribosomes and improve its genetic material transmission, moving it closer to natural cell functionality.
