03/07/2026 22:35 - Tecnologia
Biologist Fabricio Ballarini from CONICET (Argentina's National Scientific and Technical Research Council, the leading science agency in the country) provided a detailed explanation of the breakthrough by the University of Minnesota. They managed to create a synthetic cell capable of feeding, growing, and dividing on its own.
According to Ballarini in an interview with Infobae a la Tarde (a major Argentine news program), a synthetic cell is a cell built by humans. It is not modifying something that already exists, but putting all the elements in a vial and managing to give that cell life.
The Minnesota experiment focused on a cell named Spudcell, which has 25 times less genetic information than a common bacterium. It only has the necessary information to duplicate itself and grab food. Everything is very precarious, the specialist stated.
An unusual aspect of the discovery was its publication process. The study was initially rejected by the prestigious journal Cell. Faced with this, the researcher decided to publish it in full and without a patent on a website. In just one week, she managed to set up a foundation and raise ten million dollars in capital.
Ballarini highlighted that this scientific tool has a gigantic field of positive application, including the production of energy, molecules, and medicines much more efficiently. However, he also warned about the risks: Like any technology, it can be a double-edged sword and have fatal consequences if it falls into the wrong hands.
Furthermore, the scientist addressed the human obsession with eternal life. He explained that aging occurs at the cellular level and that mice have already been rejuvenated by modifying their genes. He anticipated that these processes could be applied to humans in the short term, bringing a huge ethical debate and a monumental impact on the pharmaceutical industry.
Event date: July 2, 2026.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
