Scientists Discover SpudCell that could Revolutionize Biological Engineering

In a lab at the University of Minnesota, a team of synthetic biologists came together to perform several meticulous tasks with precision and controlled bioengineering. Under the leadership of Associate Professors Kate Adamala and Aaron Engelhart, they created the SpudCell. Contrary to the quiet, controlled setting it was created from, the SpudCell was bustling and full of life.

Every biologist knows the basic processes of a living organism: energy use, reproduction, growth, development, and more (you may want to either list all of the 7 processes or just mention a couple as an example instead of saying “and more” or “etc.”). But Yet, the world has never seen a synthetic organism be able to perform all the same processes as a completely natural one.

Adamala, one of the leads in the project, when interviewed by the University of Minnesota, said, “We’ve replicated in chemistry what only used to be possible in biology: the complete set of behaviors of a cell. It proves that the most fundamental functions of life… do not need a mysterious magical spark.” Some believe this discovery could lead to new cancer treatments, more eco-friendly ways of getting energy, help clean-up the environment, and help scientists discover how life might emerge on other planets.

The creation of the SpudCell has led many scientists and biologists to ponder what defines being alive. John Glass, a leader in synthetic cell research at the J. Craig Venter Institute who was not involved in the research stated, said, “Keep in mind that ‘alive’ is not a precisely defined condition,” and “‘I know it when I see it.’ Being alive is sort of like that.” Essentially, aliveness being alive has no direct simple definition, but everyone has an intuitive understanding of when something is not alive or alive. The creators of the SpudCell do not claim to have created life as it still has many key differences from living cells.

Despite the SpudCell’s ability to grow, feed, and divide, it cannot live on its own outside the lab. The SpudCell’s lack of self-sufficiency and protein-building structures means that it relies purely on the scientists that feed it proteins and enzymes.

In addition, some outside scientists are skeptical about the potential of the SpudCell. Ronit Freeman, a synthetic biologist at the University of North Carolina said, “it is unclear how repeatable and adaptable it is ‘as is’ for other scientists to be able to progress the work.” Although the SpudCell creates a great foundation for synthetic biology, some find it difficult to keep branching off the topic and remain stagnant.

The only thing scientists can do now is keep researching. Currently, scientists are trying to isolate the variables of a cell’s genes that create the desired structures and processes they want. Once scientists find that and are able to modify them, hundreds of doors for development, medicine, engineering and more are opened.

On the contrary However, once advanced, the SpudCell could also harm the environment, humans, and animals. Because this is a completely new branch of science, it comes with many risks that could potentially have severe consequences. Scientist still remain hopeful that the SpudCell helps advance technology for the better and expose the world to wonderful new ideas and possibilities.