Scientists at the University of Minnesota have developed a new system called “SpudCells” that could help us understand the origin of life. This system involves a membrane that encloses genetic material and can import new materials, allowing it to divide and produce a few generations of offspring. Although it still requires human intervention, this research might offer insights into how the first cells formed on Earth. The team, led by Kate Adamala, used components from viruses to create a simplified version of cellular processes. This work, which is not yet peer-reviewed, could pave the way for exploring what minimalistic life forms might look like and how life began.
QUESTION: How might understanding the origin of life influence future scientific discoveries or technologies?
Artificial cell manages a few rounds of cell division
