Researchers have created a synthetic cell-like system capable of feeding, growing, copying DNA and dividing. While not considered alive, the breakthrough marks another step toward understanding how life-like behaviour can be built from non-living chemical components.
INR Report: Based on reporting by RT.
Scientists in the United States have created a synthetic cell from non-living chemical components that can feed, grow, replicate its DNA and divide, marking a significant step toward the long-running scientific goal of creating artificial life.
The lab-made cell, named SpudCell, was developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota. It is not considered alive, but researchers say it demonstrates several behaviours normally associated with living organisms.
Not Alive, But Life-Like
Synthetic biologist Professor Kate Adamala described SpudCell as an early proof of principle.
She called it an "incredibly wimpy organism" that currently does little more than "eat and occasionally make a daughter cell."
Despite its limitations, the research shows that molecules can be arranged to reproduce behaviours previously associated only with natural living cells.
How SpudCell Works
The team built SpudCell from non-living components rather than modifying an existing organism.
According to the project description cited in the report, the synthetic cells contain 36 purified enzymes, a 90,000-base-pair genome spread across several DNA molecules and a lipid membrane.
The cells operate inside a chemical-rich liquid and grow by merging with tiny feeder liposomes that supply nutrients, enzymes and ribosomes needed to make proteins. Their genome carries instructions that help them copy DNA and divide.
Still Highly Limited
The system remains far weaker than a natural cell.
SpudCells still depend on external supplies, cannot produce their own ribosomes, do not control their own metabolism and often pass on the wrong amount of DNA when they divide. They usually stop functioning after several generations.
Decades Of Synthetic Biology
Scientists have been working toward synthetic life for many years.
In 2010, US geneticist Craig Venter and his team unveiled what was described at the time as the first cell controlled by a laboratory-made genome, after transplanting synthetic DNA into a bacterium.
The report also notes that Russian researchers have pursued related work involving genome transplantation and genome reduction in bacteria, aiming to identify the minimum set of genes required for a self-sustaining cell.
Does This Affect New Zealand?
New Zealand's greatest economic strength is biology. From dairy, meat and horticulture to forestry, viticulture, aquaculture and advanced food production, much of the country's export economy depends on understanding and improving living systems.
While SpudCell is still an early-stage laboratory achievement rather than a living organism, synthetic biology is advancing rapidly. The ability to design biological systems from their most fundamental components could eventually transform plant breeding, animal health, disease resistance, pharmaceutical manufacturing, environmental restoration and next-generation agricultural technologies.
For New Zealand, the implications extend well beyond scientific research. Future advances in synthetic biology could influence everything from climate-resilient crops and livestock genetics to precision fermentation, bio-manufacturing and new high-value export industries. At the same time, these technologies are likely to generate important discussions around regulation, biosecurity, ethics, intellectual property and public trust.
As nations compete to lead the emerging bioeconomy, New Zealand's long-standing expertise in biological science and primary production could become one of its greatest strategic advantages. Understanding breakthroughs such as SpudCell is therefore not simply about following scientific progress—it is about recognising technologies that may help shape the country's economic future.
Source
Original Article: Synthetic Cell Marks New Step Toward Artificial Life – Researchers
Published: 2 July 2026