Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have developed an artificial cell that successfully completed a few rounds of cell division [1].
This milestone brings scientists closer to creating a fully self-replicating synthetic organism. Achieving controlled division in a lab-grown cell allows researchers to study the fundamental requirements of life and develop new methods for producing biological materials.
The team achieved this result by incorporating specific genetic elements and protein translation mechanisms into the synthetic structure. To facilitate the process, the researchers added a gene encoding T7 RNA polymerase to the genome of the artificial cell, which they referred to as the SpudCell [1].
"In this case, the gene encoding T7 RNA polymerase was added to the SpudCell genome, and it was made by those artificial cells," a researcher said [1].
While the cells managed a few rounds of division [1], the system is not yet fully autonomous. The researchers noted that the cells still require specific added materials to maintain the replication cycle. The current architecture demonstrates that a synthetic genome can drive the physical splitting of a cell membrane—a critical step in synthetic biology.
Despite the progress, the team identified a remaining gap in the cellular machinery. The ability to synthesize proteins from RNA remains a primary hurdle for the next phase of development.
"The last element needed here is the translation of RNAs into proteins," a researcher said [1].
“An artificial cell successfully managed a few rounds of cell division using added materials.”
The ability to engineer a cell that can divide marks a transition from creating static synthetic structures to creating dynamic, replicating systems. By isolating the specific genetic triggers required for division, scientists can better understand the minimum viable components of life, potentially leading to breakthroughs in targeted drug delivery or the creation of specialized bio-factories.
