Scientists have taken a significant step toward creating artificial life by engineering tiny synthetic cells that can feed, grow, and multiply in a laboratory dish.
These cells, named SpudCells, are made from chemical compounds and are the first to demonstrate a complete cell cycle including growth, genetic replication, and division, according to a report in The Guardian.
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The breakthrough could eventually lead to the production of artificial organisms designed to manufacture medicines, food, fuels, and other essential materials.
How SpudCells Work
Dr. Kate Adamala, who led the research at the University of Minnesota, explained that the synthetic structure serves as a proof of principle, even though it is not as fast or robust as a natural cell.
“It is not as robust, as fast, or as good at most of its functions as a natural cell, but it is proof of principle that molecules can reconstitute behaviours that up until now we only associated with natural living cells,” Adamala said.
Unlike previous efforts that modified existing bacteria, Adamala’s team built the cells from the bottom up, starting with water-filled liposomes measuring a few thousandths of a millimeter wide.
They added synthetic DNA to establish basic functions and named the cells SpudCells as a nod to both Sputnik and Adamala’s Polish heritage.
SpudCells operate exclusively within a liquid packed with vital chemicals like ATP, the primary energy-carrying molecule.
To grow, they fuse with tiny feeder liposomes containing molecules, enzymes, and ribosomes needed to synthesize proteins, guided by genetic instructions to copy genomes and divide.
