# Building Life from Scratch with SpudCells | UK News

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/uk-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7493829/building-life-from-scratch-with-spudcells-uk-news
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/uk-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7493829/building-life-from-scratch-with-spudcells-uk-news.md
Podcast: [UK News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!](https://stenobird.com/podcast/uk-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7493829)
Published: 2026-07-01T14:32:09+00:00
Episode link: https://api.fastcast.ai/audio/5e5541aa-aef8-4eb5-84b7-0ef99b68066b.mp3
Audio file: https://api.fastcast.ai/audio/5e5541aa-aef8-4eb5-84b7-0ef99b68066b.mp3
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Duration seconds: 120

## Resource

Scientists are inching closer to building life from scratch with the creation of SpudCells—tiny, lab-made blobs that feed, grow, and divide like living organisms. Unlike earlier attempts, these synthetic life forms are built entirely from known chemical parts, starting with water-filled spheres and synthetic DNA. Led by researcher Kate Adamala, who humorously named them after her Polish heritage and love of potatoes, the SpudCells demonstrate basic life functions and even mimic natural selection by favoring genetic advantages. Still rudimentary—they can’t make their own proteins or handle waste—they’re seen as a foundational step toward an “operating system for life,” with the team aiming to engineer more complex biological systems. The research, currently a preprint, invites global scrutiny and could pave the way for future breakthroughs in medicine, food, and fuel production. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai. View sources & latest updates: https://sources.thednn.ai/2e26b439fd88476d

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