Scientists say they have made a cell from scratch for first time

Key Points:

• Scientists led by Kate Adamala at the University of Minnesota have built "SpudCell," a synthetic cell constructed from nonliving chemicals that can feed, grow, and replicate like a simple bacterium, marking a significant milestone in synthetic biology.
• SpudCell is a fragile prototype made of 150 to 200 molecules with a minimal genome of 90,000 base pairs, replicating through a unique protein-driven mechanism but relying on externally supplied ribosomes, and it currently replicates much slower than natural cells.
• The synthetic cell is not considered fully alive and cannot evolve on its own, but it demonstrates life-like behaviors and is subject to selection pressures, offering a platform to better understand life's origins and develop engineered biological systems.
• The creators have formed a public-benefit institution called Biotic to share SpudCell technology openly with researchers worldwide, aiming to foster collaboration and innovation while incorporating safety measures to prevent environmental risks.
• Experts see this development as a major breakthrough with potential applications in medicine, carbon capture, and chemical manufacturing, though ethical and security considerations remain important as the technology advances.