Scientists BUILD a cell from scratch: Synthetic organism can feed, grow, copy its DNA and divide in world-first breakthrough

A synthetic cell grew, copied its DNA, and split in two

A synthetic cell built from scratch — no living components, just liposomes, DNA, and 36 commercial enzymes standing in for protein synthesis — grew, copied its own DNA, and split into two, according to Quanta's report on this synthetic-cell milestone: the first time researchers have watched an artificial cell complete a full division cycle. — Read the rest The post A synthetic cell grew, copied its DNA, and split in two appeared first on Boing Boing.

Synthetic cell marks new step toward artificial life – researchers

Scientists have developed a synthetic cell that copies DNA and divides, according to University of Minnesota researchers Read Full Article at RT.com

Scientists Build the First Synthetic Cell That Can Grow, Divide and Compete

University of Minnesota scientists say a synthetic cell called SpudCell, built entirely from non-living chemical components, has completed a full biological life cycle for the first time, growing, replicating its DNA and dividing into daughter cells without starting from any living organism.

New synthetic cells tiptoe toward creating life

New synthetic cells tiptoe toward creating life

Scientists Create First Synthetic Cell

This is kind of wild. CBS News, Scientists at the University of Minnesota say they've made the first synthetic cell that can complete a life cycle, a major breakthrough that could lead to innovation in the medicine and engineering fields. Called SpudCell — a play on the first space satellite Sputnik — it is made entirely from chemical components but can grow, divide and replicate. Quanta Magazine explains: For the very first time, biologists packed nonliving components into a cell-like membrane, piece by piece, and witnessed the bag of molecules start to behave like life. The lab-made synthetic cell grew, replicated its DNA, and divided, demonstrating the basic functions of a cell cycle. It’s “an impressive step,” said Jack Szostak (opens a new tab), who studies the origins of life at the University of Chicago and was not involved in the research. “I don’t know of any other effort to put together an artificial cell from biological components that has progressed so far.” read more