Researchers claim synthetic cells feed and multiply

Researchers say they have built tiny synthetic cells that use lab-made DNA to sustain themselves and reproduce in a laboratory dish.

• Researchers at the University of Minnesota and other institutions have constructed SpudCells entirely from non-living chemical components.
• The synthetic cells incorporate lab-made DNA and are able to feed, grow, and divide, according to the researchers.
• The project aims to create living organisms from scratch, the researchers said.