Synthetic cells that grow and replicate created in lab, but are not yet alive
In a breakthrough for biological engineering, researchers at the University of Minnesota have created synthetic cells that can feed, grow, and replicate — mimicking key behaviours of natural life. The work, part of the SpudCell project, represents a significant step toward building living organisms from non-living components.
“We’ve replicated in chemistry what only used to be possible in biology: the complete set of behaviours of a cell. It proves that fundamental functions of life, like growth and replication, don’t need a mysterious magical spark,” said Kate Adamala, the lead researcher, in a statement released by the university.
The synthetic cell, however, is not truly alive. It relies on external supplies of food and ribosomes — the molecular machines that build proteins — and lacks defences or an efficient waste removal system. Still, experts consider it the most convincing demonstration yet that generating life from non-life is achievable.
“This work is just the beginning. We are showing it’s possible to engineer the basic functions of the cell. To fully realise the promise of this technology — to make it robust and practical — we need combined international effort,” Adamala said.
SpudCell is a stripped-down version of a natural cell. While living cells divide using an internal scaffold called a cytoskeleton, the synthetic cell bypasses this need. Instead, proteins cluster on the membrane surface until mechanical stress causes the membrane to split. Researchers introduced a genetic change that boosted production of a fusion protein, leading to faster growth and more offspring. After five generations, the faster-growing variant dominated the population.
By comparison, the human genome contains about 3 million kilobase pairs (kbp), while SpudCell’s genome is only 90 kbp. The genome is split across seven separate DNA plasmids, allowing the team to independently control different cellular functions.
The achievement opens the door to designing custom-made living machines, though significant hurdles remain before such applications become practical.
