Scientists create world's first synthetic cell as life 'built, not born' in lab

Scientists at the University of Minnesota have achieved what researchers are calling a genuine milestone in synthetic biology by constructing the world's first cell built entirely from non-living chemical components. The creation, dubbed "SpudCell," was announced yesterday by a team led by synthetic biologist Kate Adamala. Unlike previous experiments that modified existing bacteria, this cell was assembled from scratch using purified chemicals. The synthetic cell can perform a complete life cycl