Proliferation of model protocells

Modern life-forms undergo proliferation by utilizing sophisticated molecular machinery for cell division. Examples include the FtsZ-Min system, which regulates binary fission in bacteria, and the spindle apparatus, responsible for driving mitosis in eukaryotic cells. However, the proliferation of primitive life-forms, known as protocells, is widely recognized as lacking sophisticated molecular machinery for cell division, which has posed an intriguing question in evolutionary and synthetic biology. Here, we discover a collective proliferation mode that enables model protocells to flourish throughout prolonged incubation periods. Our findings may provide insight into controlling the growth dynamics of synthetic protocells or active droplets.