SpudCell: Scientists Made a Cell With Most of the Hallmarks of Life. Here’s What to Know.

Scientists at Tufts University created SpudCell, a biological structure made from frog cells, according to a study published in Scientific Reports in December 2024. The structure exhibits characteristics including metabolic activity, response to stimuli, and the ability to repair damage. Researchers constructed SpudCell by extracting cells from African clawed frog embryos and allowing them to self-organize into a new form. The team stated the creation demonstrates how living systems can be repurposed and organized in ways not found in nature. SpudCell does not reproduce, metabolize independently, or possess a nervous system.

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