Scientists claim that for the first time in history, they have constructed a synthetic cell that feeds, grows, and replicates — just like a natural one — out of non-living chemical components.
The team from the University of Minnesota says their “SpudCell” is the “first synthetic cell with a complete cell cycle,” and can “grow, replicate its genome, divide, and undergo selection and competition across multiple generations.”
The research, which is being hailed as a major breakthrough, could usher in a new biotech era defined by synthetic organisms that can be grown from scratch and programmed to complete specific functions. It’s a futuristic approach that could open many doors for our efforts to solve a wide variety of human problems, from fighting cancer to capturing carbon.
It could also challenge our preconceived notions of what’s considered “life,” while exploring the essential functions of a living cell.
“We’ve replicated in chemistry what only used to be possible in biology: the complete set of behaviors of a cell,” said team lead and University of Minnesota synthetic biologist Kate Adamala in a statement about the work. “It proves that the most fundamental functions of life, like growth and replication, do not need a mysterious magical spark.”
PERCEPTION RESET 