Artificial cell manages a few rounds of cell division

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have created the world's first synthetic cell called SpudCell that can feed, grow, and reproduce, built entirely from non-living chemical components . SpudCell is a microscopic water droplet encased in a fatty membrane, containing a minimal genome of just 36 genes . The breakthrough research was led by Kate Adamala, though the cell is not yet considered fully alive .

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-07-02