SMRTR Science & EngineeringNov 24, 2025Quanta Magazine

A Cell So Minimal That It Challenges Definitions of Life

SMRTR summary

Scientists discovered a cell so severely stripped of essential functions that it challenges traditional biological definitions of life. While cells typically process biomolecules, grow, replicate genetic material, and reproduce, this minimal cell lacks many of these fundamental capabilities yet still exists as a cellular structure, forcing researchers to reconsider what characteristics truly define living organisms.

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