Scientists build synthetic cell from scratch that can feed, grow and replicate
The prototype needs supplied ribosomes and lasts only 5 to 10 generations, researchers said, as they launch Biotic to share the technology.
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities synthetic biologist Kate Adamala and her team constructed SpudCell, a synthetic droplet capable of feeding, growing, and replicating like a natural cell.
- Made of 150 to 200 molecules and 36 genes, SpudCell relies on a 90,000 base pair genome to replicate every 12 hours at 30 degrees Celsius, far slower than natural bacteria.
- Researchers encoded division using FLAG surface tags, yet ribosomes degrade over time and only 30% of SpudCells retained the full genome after five division cycles.
- Following the research, synthetic biologist Drew Endy and Adamala founded Biotic, a public-benefit institution that secured $10 million in seed money to accelerate synthetic cell development.
- Although SpudCell remains a limited prototype unable to evolve, scientists suggest synthetic cells could eventually enable new cancer treatments, carbon capture, or chemical manufacturing.
40 Articles
40 Articles
Scientists make cells using lab-made DNA
Researchers claim they are closer to creating life from scratch after building tiny, quivering blobs that use lab-made DNA to feed, grow and multiply in a dish. According to a report published in The Guardian, the synthetic cells were made from chemical compounds and are believed to be the first to demonstrate the complete cell cycle of growth, genetic replication and splitting to produce the next generation. The work raises the prospect of arti…
Scientists 'Fully Engineer' World's First Cell Built from Scratch, as Experts Debate on What Counts as Life
Scientists have built a cell from scratch using nothing but non-living chemicals, in what researchers describe as a genuine milestone for synthetic biology. The creation, named 'SpudCell', can feed itself, grow and divide much like a natural organism. Kate Adamala, a synthetic biologist and professor at the University of Minnesota, led the team that assembled the cell piece by piece. 'I know the full ingredient list of the cell, I know exactly w…
By Katie Hunt, CNN. Scientists claim to have built, for the first time, a cell from scratch capable of feeding, growing, and replicating like a natural cell. This breakthrough in synthetic biology could usher in an era of custom-designed organisms that function like living machines. Kate Adamala, a synthetic biologist and professor at the University of Minnesota, and her team built the cell piece by piece from non-living chemical components. The…
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