Can scientists create life?   SHOULD THEY???   And, what IS life anyway?

A fascinating report by K.R. Callaway, New York Times, July 1, describes research at a lab at the University of Minnesota:  The goal: create life.

“SpudCell is a synthetic cell made by scientists at the University of Minnesota. It was created in a lab from lifeless chemicals but can perform most of the same functions as living cells. It eats, grows and reproduces, passing along its genetic material to future generations.

“Although it’s not the first synthetic cell ever created, SpudCell is the first to complete a full life cycle — from birth to division into next-generation cells — after having been created from the “bottom up” using laboratory chemicals. It’s a pared down version of a living cell structure, revealing the basic genetic and structural components necessary for the functions of........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)