Cells come alive after death
In this third state, certain cells — when given nutrients, oxygen, bioelectricity, or biochemical signals — have the capacity to transform into new multicellular organisms, exhibiting new functions even after death.
The researchers reviewed recent studies showing the incredible capability of cells to reorganize and take on new forms after the death of the organism.
Skin cells become xenobots
In 2021, U.S. scientists found that skin cells from dead frogs could adapt to a lab environment and spontaneously form multicellular organisms — actual living machines called “xenobots.”
While most machines are constructed from materials like steel and plastic, which can degrade or break over time and have harmful side effects, living systems made from self-renewing and biocompatible materials would avoid those negative consequences.
These xenobots displayed behaviors far beyond their original biological purpose, using hair-like structures called cilia to move through their surroundings.
They also proved adept at material collection, information recording, self-healing, and limited replication.
Lung cells become anthrobots
Similarly, other researchers discovered that human lung cells could self-organize into tiny multicellular organisms known as “anthrobots.”
Anthrobots range in size from the width of a human hair to the tip of a sharpened pencil. Remarkably, these multicellular robots are designed to self-assemble and have demonstrated a pronounced healing effect on other cells.
These anthrobots could not only move independently but also repair themselves and heal damaged nerve cells nearby.
Freaky, from the Wikipedia page on xenobots:
The first xenobots were built by Douglas Blackiston according to blueprints generated by an AI program, which was developed by Sam Kriegman.[3]
Xenobots built to date have been less than 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) wide and composed of just two things: skin cells and heart muscle cells, both of which are derived from stem cells harvested from early (blastula stage) frog embryos.[7] The skin cells provide rigid support and the heart cells act as small motors, contracting and expanding in volume to propel the xenobot forward. The shape of a xenobot’s body, and its distribution of skin and heart cells, are automatically designed in simulation to perform a specific task, using a process of trial and error (an evolutionary algorithm). Xenobots have been designed to walk, swim, push pellets, carry payloads, and work together in a swarm to aggregate debris scattered along the surface of their dish into neat piles. They can survive for weeks without food and heal themselves after lacerations.[2]
Other kinds of motors and sensors have been incorporated into xenobots. Instead of heart muscle, xenobots can grow patches of cilia and use them as small oars for swimming.[8]
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