Synthetic Cells and mRNA Injections Redefine Biological Reproduction
July 11, 2026
From the creation of self-replicating SpudCells to mRNA chromosome corrections in human eggs, bioengineering is shifting from observing nature to actively programming its foundational mechanics. These breakthroughs in IVF and synthetic life represent a new frontier of proprietary control over the biological commons, where the legacy of Dolly the sheep matures into a sophisticated infrastructure for managing the very code of existence.
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Injection halves risk of chromosome error common in older human eggs
Egg cells missing a key protein may be more likely to end up with the wrong number of chromosomes, but an mRNA injection that helps the cells make the protein reduces the problem
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30 years since Dolly the sheep was born, where is cloning technology at now?
When Dolly the sheep – the first cloned mammal – was born 30 years ago, she became one of the most famous animals in science history. Her arrival sparked predictions of a sci-fi future filled with cloned pets, cloned humans and even resurrected extinct animals like the woolly mammoth. But the realit…
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Creating synthetic life in a lab? SpudCell falls short of the goal, but raises even more useful questions
If synthetic cells are ever made, they may look like this illustration of translucent bubbles under the microscope. Westend61/Getty Images Nature is beautiful, powerful and essential. But nature is not always gentle. The same biological world that gives rise to forests, coral reefs and human life al…
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Lambs born via IVF using highly immature eggs in major breakthrough
Lambs have been born using an experimental form of IVF that coaxes immature eggs to become mature ones. This could boost the number of eggs available for fertilisation and improve IVF success rates
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What is 'SpudCell'? Arguably the greatest bioengineering feat yet
A prototype cell partly capable of replicating itself has been created using 36 existing bacterial genes, but it's not really a living organism – yet