Scientists Build a Cell from Scratch with Lifelike Traits

The research suggests it is possible to generate life from nonlife, a goal long sought by synthetic biologists

Scientists from the University of Minnesota shocked the research world this week with experimental findings that mark the first step toward creating living things from nonliving matter. 

To build the cells, scientists first mixed together molecules, including dozens of proteins and simple molecules needed to trigger chemical reactions that make a cell a cell, such as making new proteins from genes. The research team, led by synthetic biologist Kate Adamala, gives their synthetic cells genes borrowed from E. coli, carefully choosing genes for basic jobs like copying DNA. When the cells floated to the surface of this molecular soup, they fed them small molecules through channels on their surfaces. They also created small bubbles and stuffed them with proteins that were too large to fit through the channels. The cells grew and, before long, began dividing.

While the research was a major technical achievement, researchers, including Adamala, caution against overhyping the findings. The field is a long way from building anything close to a modern living cell, but as a first step it's right up there with Wright's first flight or the Model-T. 

To read more about this, check out the full story in Quanta Magazine.