Scientists at the University of Minnesota made fake cells. They call them SpudCells. These cells can grow and make copies of themselves.

明尼蘇達大學的科學家製造出人造細胞，他們將其稱為 SpudCells。這些細胞能夠生長並自我複製。

The scientists used DNA and small fat bubbles to make the cells. The cells need special food and energy from outside to work.

科學家使用 DNA 和微小的脂肪泡來製造這些細胞。這些細胞需要從外部獲取特殊的食物和能量才能運作。

These cells can copy their DNA and split into two. Some cells grow faster than others. This is like how nature works.

這些細胞可以複製其 DNA 並分裂成兩個。有些細胞的生長速度比其他細胞快，這與自然界的運作方式相似。

But these cells are very simple. They cannot make their own energy. They cannot clean their own waste. They often stop working after a short time.

但這些細胞非常簡單。它們無法自行製造能量，也無法自行清理廢物。它們通常在短時間後就會停止運作。

The scientists started a new company called Biotic. They want other scientists around the world to use these cells.

科學家創立了一家名為 Biotic 的新公司。他們希望全世界的科學家都能使用這些細胞。

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed synthetic cells called 'SpudCells.' These cells are able to perform basic biological activities, such as growing and replicating.

明尼蘇達大學的研究人員開發了稱為「SpudCells」的合成細胞。這些細胞能夠執行基本的生物活動，例如生長和複製。

The team created SpudCells by placing synthetic DNA inside small fat-based bubbles called liposomes. Unlike earlier versions of synthetic life, these cells were built from scratch to ensure that every chemical part is known. However, these systems cannot survive on their own; they require an external environment filled with energy (ATP) and special 'feeder' liposomes that provide the necessary proteins and enzymes to function.

該團隊透過將合成 DNA 置入稱為「脂質體」的小型脂肪泡中，創造出 SpudCells。與早期的合成生命版本不同，這些細胞是從零開始構建的，以確保每個化學組成部分都已知。然而，這些系統無法獨立生存；它們需要一個充滿能量（ATP）的外部環境，以及特殊的「餵食」脂質體來提供運作所需的蛋白質和酶。

In terms of performance, the researchers showed that these synthetic cells can complete a full life cycle, including copying their DNA and dividing. Furthermore, they observed that some genetic versions grew faster than others, meaning they could evolve. Despite these successes, the cells are still simple. They cannot manage their own energy, they have no way to remove waste, and their DNA often becomes unstable, which causes them to stop working after a few cycles.

在性能方面，研究人員證明這些合成細胞可以完成完整的生命週期，包括複製 DNA 和分裂。此外，他們觀察到某些基因版本生長速度比其他版本快，這意味著它們能夠進化。儘管取得了這些成功，但這些細胞仍然很簡單。它們無法管理自身的能量，沒有清除廢物的方法，且其 DNA 經常變得不穩定，導致它們在經過幾個週期後停止運作。

Experts have different opinions about this discovery. Professor Tom Ellis from Imperial College London emphasized that this work provides a useful way to study the minimum requirements for life. On the other hand, Professor John Dupré from the University of Exeter argued that these cells might be less useful for industrial work than modified bacteria, as they lack the complex relationships found in natural biology.

專家對此發現持有不同意見。倫敦帝國學院的 Tom Ellis 教授強調，這項工作為研究生命的最低要求提供了一種有用的方法。另一方面，埃克塞特大學的 John Dupré 教授則認為，由於缺乏自然生物學中的複雜關係，這些細胞在工業應用上的實用性可能低於基因改造細菌。

The project has led to the creation of Biotic, a public benefit company that aims to standardize this 'operating system for life' for scientists worldwide.

該項目促成了 Biotic 公司的成立，這是一家公益公司，旨在為全球科學家將這套「生命操作系統」標準化。

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have engineered synthetic cells, designated as 'SpudCells,' which exhibit fundamental biological behaviors including growth and replication.

明尼蘇達大學的研究人員工程設計出被稱為「SpudCells」的合成細胞，這些細胞展現出包括生長與複製在內的基本生物行為。

The synthesis of SpudCells was achieved through the integration of synthetic DNA plasmids within lipid-based spheres known as liposomes. Unlike previous iterations of synthetic life, such as the 2010 bacterial-based organism developed by Craig Venter, these entities were constructed from the bottom up to ensure total chemical transparency. The operational viability of these systems is contingent upon an external medium rich in ATP and 'feeder' liposomes containing the ribosomes and enzymes necessary for protein synthesis.

SpudCells 的合成是透過將合成 DNA 質體整合到稱為脂質體（liposomes）的脂質球體中而實現的。與之前的合成生命（例如 2010 年由 Craig Venter 開發的基於細菌的生物體）不同，這些實體是從底層向上構建，以確保完全的化學透明度。這些系統的運行可行性取決於一個富含 ATP 的外部介質，以及含有蛋白質合成所需核糖體與酶的「餵食」脂質體。

From a functional perspective, the researchers demonstrated that these synthetic entities can undergo a complete cell cycle, including genetic replication and division. Furthermore, the application of evolutionary principles was observed as genetic variants with growth advantages successfully outcompeted original populations. Despite these milestones, the systems remain rudimentary; they lack autonomous metabolic control, an internal waste management mechanism, and exhibit instability in DNA transmission across generations, typically resulting in cessation of function after several cycles.

從功能角度來看，研究人員證明這些合成實體可以經歷一個完整的細胞週期，包括基因複製與分裂。此外，研究觀察到了進化原則的應用，具有生長優勢的基因變體成功擊敗了原始種群。儘管取得了這些里程碑，但這些系統仍然很原始；它們缺乏自主的代謝控制、內部廢物管理機制，且在跨代 DNA 傳遞中表現不穩定，通常在經過幾個週期後便會停止運作。

Stakeholder reactions to the development are bifurcated. Professor Tom Ellis of Imperial College London posits that the achievement provides a critical framework for identifying the minimum requirements for life and testing biological circuits. Conversely, Professor John Dupré of the University of Exeter suggests that the utility of these cells may be inferior to modified bacterial cells for industrial production and argues that the absence of symbiotic relationality limits their biological significance.

利益相關者對此開發的反應分為兩派。倫敦帝國學院的 Tom Ellis 教授認為，這項成就為確定生命的最低要求以及測試生物電路提供了一個關鍵框架。相反，埃克塞特大學的 John Dupré 教授則認為，就工業生產而言，這些細胞的實用性可能低於經過修飾的細菌細胞，並主張缺乏共生關係限制了其生物學意義。

The research concludes with the establishment of Biotic, a public benefit corporation intended to standardize this 'operating system for life' for global scientific application.

研究以成立 Biotic 為結論，這是一家公眾利益公司，旨在將這個「生命作業系統」標準化，以供全球科學應用。