University of Minnesota researchers build synthetic cell that grows and divides
A research team at the University of Minnesota has successfully constructed a synthetic cell from scratch that can grow and divide. Dubbed SpudCell, this artificial cell marks a significant step towards creating artificial life.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have successfully built the first synthetic cell from non-cellular materials that can grow and divide. Named SpudCell, this engineered cell represents a major advance in the field of artificial life, demonstrating a fundamental cell division cycle outside of natural biology.
The SpudCell is composed of 36 purified enzymes, a genome consisting of 90,000 base pairs across nine DNA molecules, and a lipid membrane. The artificial cell has demonstrated the ability to proliferate and replicate its genome over multiple generations.
The research utilized a cell-free protein synthesis system and synthetic DNA. Nourishment was provided externally through "feeding liposomes" that fused with the SpudCell. Once the cell reached a sufficient size, a specific protein triggered it to constrict and split into two new daughter cells.
Scientists also tested the synthetic cell's rudimentary evolutionary capabilities. A modified variant of SpudCell that could bind more tightly to nutrient-containing "food vesicles" showed a competitive advantage in acquiring resources compared to the original strain. This suggests that SpudCell can adapt under environmental pressures.