Bad title for this big of a story imo. Are we less sure about life now than before today? Good excerpt:

“ Scientists hope synthetic cells can tell them things about life that natural cells cannot, including such basic questions as how many genes are necessary for a minimal form of life.

But synthetic cells also might someday be engineered to do things that natural cells can’t, like making new kinds of medicine or drawing large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In theory, engineered SpudCells might produce a vast range of proteins that natural cells cannot be coaxed to make, or even toxic chemicals like rocket fuel.

Now, “we can think about doing chemistry that we’re barely getting our heads around,” Dr. Glass said.”