Scientists create synthetic 'SpudCell' that feeds, grows and reproduces

Meet SpudCell, a synthetic cell made from lifeless ingredients that feeds, grows, divides, and experiences selection. If it doesn't have all the hallmarks of life, it has a lot! Here's my story. Gift link: nyti.ms/4vCbTih

This Cell Feeds, Grows and Reproduces. And It’s Manmade. “Dr. Adamala named her creation SpudCell, after its potato-like appearance. Rather than patent it, she and Dr. Endy are organizing a community of scientists to focus on making SpudCells more fully alive...” Gift link:

Gosh, you wonder why they don’t just ask an AI chatbot or something. (From the NYT article on the “Spudcell” work).

Meet the humble SpudCell: ‘Adamala’s colleagues originally wanted to name the lab’s creation after her. “Call it something that’s not my name, call it a potato for all I care,” she says she told them. SpudCell stuck—and the echo of Sputnik is welcome, Adamala says.”’ www.science.org/content/arti...

"Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree" may need to be revised. Just amazing science here. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

The @economist.com version of today's #SpudCell story (gift link) www.economist.com/science-and-...

This cell, stripped down to 36 genes, made in the Midwest and named SpudCell, is extremely DEVO-coded.

Scientists created a synthetic cell that feeds, grows and reproduces. We did this quick piece with some animations to show you how it works tinyurl.com/muhecan5 (gift link)

Lab-made cells ("SpudCells") can reproduce and do all kinds of regular cell functions. www.nytimes.com/interactive/... on the road to fully functional synthetic cells?

Scientists have created a synthetic cell that can eat, grow and reproduce. The lab-made cell, called SpudCell, could help researchers better understand the basic building blocks of life. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/s...

So Earth's Grey Goo scenario is going to be caused by ... SpudCell. Spud. Cell.

Scientists built a synthetic cell that combines more lifelike properties than ever before — proof of concept that it’s possible to bring nonliving materials to life, or something close to it, in the lab. @yaseminsaplakoglu.bsky.social is on it www.quantamagazine.org/for-the-firs...

"Scientists have long dreamed of discovering the alchemy by which chemicals can be turned into life. On Wednesday, a team at the University of Minnesota announced that it had taken a major step toward that vision." www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

a biologist lady has made an entirely artificial cell?? "Synthetic biologist Kate Adamala coaxed a cellular soup of nonliving biomolecules enclosed in a membrane to act somewhat like a living thing, even growing and dividing into daughter cells." www.quantamagazine.org/for-the-firs... BADASS.

Oh yes. It's a starting point for bringing more functions into a fully synthetic cell, for one. Or a controlled cell environment for testing all manner of synthetic biology techniques.