Nytimes iconNytimesJul 2, 2026

Scientists React to the Lab-Made, Yet Lifelike, SpudCell

This cell-like structure can grow, feed, divide and compete. Researchers ponder what it means for the future of synthetic biology and our definition of "life."

Share this story

Send the public story page.

Useful takeaways from this story.

Researchers ponder what it means for the future of synthetic biology and our definition of "life."

This cell-like structure can grow, feed, divide and compete.

This cell-like structure can grow, feed, divide and compete. Researchers ponder what it means for the future of synthetic biology and our definition of "life."

Building the complete brief

The page is ready to read now. The fuller skim-friendly version will appear here automatically.

The useful part

Researchers ponder what it means for the future of synthetic biology and our definition of "life." This cell-like structure can grow, feed, divide and compete.

Details worth keeping

This cell-like structure can grow, feed, divide and compete.

Keep reading in the app

Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.

Open in app