‘Beautiful blobs’: synthetic life a step closer as scientists make cells using lab-made DNA
Scientists have created 'SpudCell,' the first synthetic cell built from scratch using lab-made DNA that can grow and divide.
📍 Where it landed
Scientists announced the creation of synthetic cells built from scratch that can feed, grow, and divide. While some reports highlighted the potential for low-carbon factories, others questioned if the cells were truly alive.
The story quieted without a definitive conclusion in the coverage.
Epilogue added 49d ago, after coverage quieted.
The obvious questions
What is SpudCell?
SpudCell is a synthetic cell created by scientists using lab-made DNA that exhibits most hallmarks of life.
What can this synthetic cell do?
According to coverage, the cell is able to grow and divide.
What is the intended use for these cells?
The Financial Times reports that these cells are intended to power low-carbon factories.
The story so far
Researchers have developed a synthetic cell, referred to as SpudCell, using lab-made DNA. This creation represents a basic component of life and possesses most of the hallmarks of life, including the ability to grow and divide.
Coverage from The Guardian, The New York Times, CNN, Quanta Magazine, and the Financial Times emphasizes the milestone of building a cell from scratch. The Financial Times specifically notes that these synthetic cells are intended to power low-carbon factories.
Future developments will focus on the application of these 'beautiful blobs' within industrial settings to support low-carbon initiatives.
Synthesized by Newsylist from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 51d ago.
The reporting (12)
- 'Just the beginning': Scientists say they have built a cell from scratch for the first time WCVB · 51d ago
- SpudCell: Have scientists really made a living cell from scratch? Not quite New Scientist · 51d ago
- World’s first synthetic cell with a complete life cycle could revolutionize biological engineering University of Minnesota Twin Cities · 51d ago
- Scientists unveil synthetic cells to power low-carbon factories Financial Times · 51d ago
- Scientists have built a cell from the ground up The Economist · 51d ago
- Synthetic biology researchers think they’ve made a cell. Is it alive? statnews.com · 51d ago
- This Cell Feeds, Grows and Reproduces. And It’s Manmade. The New York Times · 51d ago
- Scientists unveil synthetic cells to power low-carbon factories Financial Times · 51d ago
- For the First Time, a Cell Built From Scratch Grows and Divides Quanta Magazine · 51d ago
- Scientists say they have built a basic component of life from scratch CNN · 51d ago
- SpudCell: Scientists Made a Cell With Most of the Hallmarks of Life. Here’s What to Know. The New York Times · 51d ago
- ‘Beautiful blobs’: synthetic life a step closer as scientists make cells using lab-made DNA The Guardian · 51d ago broke it first
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