mléném
Mléném is a term used in speculative biology and world-building to denote a hypothetical minimal living unit. In this context, a mléném is envisioned as the smallest self-sustaining organism, with a compact genome and a core metabolic network that supports growth and replication under defined conditions. The concept is often employed in thought experiments on the origin of life and the limits of minimal genomes.
Etymology: The word mléném is a fictional coinage created for narrative or theoretical purposes, with no established
Description: In proposed models, a mléném carries a minimal set of genes encoding essential functions such
Ecology and life cycle: Mlénéms are imagined to inhabit environments that provide simple energy sources and
Significance: The mléném concept helps explore questions about what constitutes life, the minimal requirements for metabolism
See also: Protocell, Minimal genome, Abiogenesis, Synthetic biology, Xenobiology.