Difference between Spud Cell and Natural Cell: Comparison

Natural cell vs Spud Cell

What is a Spud cell?

Definition: A synthetic cell-like system assembled from purified, non-living molecules like lipid membranes, DNA plasmids, proteins and enzymes.

Origin: Created by Prof. Kate Adamala and team at the University of Minnesota.

Genome: About 90,000 base pairs, split across multiple plasmids (instead of a single chromosome).

What can spud cells do similarly to natural cells?

•       Acquires nutrients by fusing with “feeder liposomes.”
•        Replicates its genome.
•       Grows in size.
•       Divides using proteins that crowd the membrane (no cytoskeleton required).
•        Cell Cycle: Demonstrated five generations of replication and division in lab conditions.
•       Selection & Competition: Genetic variants that grow faster can outcompete others, showing Darwinian-like behavior in a synthetic system

Now let’s see how a SPUD cell is different from a natural cell

Natural cell	Spud cell
Fully autonomous self-sustaining system	Completely dependent system provided by lab conditions
Genome Size: Millions of base pairs	~90,000 bp
Nutrient acquisition: self-metabolism	Fusion with feeder liposomes
Division mechanism: Cytoskeleton-mediated	Protein crowding on membrane
Status: Alive	Synthetic, not alive

In short, Spud Cell is a synthetic, lab-made cell that mimics some life’s essential functions but is not truly alive. It is completely dependent on laboratory conditions.

The research on spud cells is still in an experimental stage, far from practical applications like drug manufacturing or autonomous synthetic organisms. The Spud cells are not alive but are considered a major step toward the first synthetic life.

Reference: A Chemically Defined Synthetic Cell Capable Of Growth And Replication

Nathaniel J. Gaut, Christopher Deich, Brock Cash, Tanner Hoog, Aaron E. Engelhart, Katarzyna P. Adamala

bioRxiv 2026.07.01.735724; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.01.735724