Without genetic modification, scientists have created a new robotlike organism called a ‘xenobot’ from the stem cells of a frog. 

Stem cells are basal, unspecialized structures. They do not have a particular purpose in the body prior to maturation, yet their utility is diverse. A stem cell can develop into one of numerous cellular archetypes: muscle cells, blood cells, nerve cells and various others. These specialized cells have clear and essential capabilities needed for the organism to function. 

Harvesting stem cells from the embryo of an African clawed frog, researchers from Harvard University, the University of Vermont, and Tufts University formed piles of cellular material and allowed them to grow. Cilia, or quivering hairlike filaments, would emerge on the clumps and spark movement as they disturbed its surrounding solution. This caused the stem cells to swim in swirling patterns. 

While spiraling, these cellular configurations occasionally picked up free floating stem cells in their paths. With the original spherical nature of these xenobots, this event was quite uncommon. The researchers circumvented this issue, using an evolutionary algorithm to hypothesize an ideal shape for the xenobots. An evolutionary algorithm is a subset of artificial intelligence with an emphasis on replicating the behaviors of living things. 

Their computations indicated that organizing the stem cells in a crescent would allow them to optimally pick up isolated stem cells. By manually shaping the stem cells of the xenobots, researchers effectively ‘programmed’ them. None of the cells’ genetics were altered, but their relative positionings led to specific emergent behaviors desired by the scientists. 

When enough stem cells were collected by the spiraling structures, they would separate into their own pile and follow a similar life cycle: grow cilia, start spiraling, collect more stem cells. Of course, these new piles lacked the refined crescent of the researchers’ hand-made variations, but could still slowly execute the same tasks. They were duplicating themselves in a process known as kinematic self-replication. 

By ‘programming’ the frog cells in an alternative manner, the xenobots can perform completely different tasks. Scientists hope that they might function as nanobots, doing things such as delivering drugs to specific parts of the human body. This would be a particularly powerful application as the ‘robots’ are completely organic and biodegradable, implying they would have a lessened negative impact on the patient. 

Between its programmability and self-replicative capabilities, a xenobot stands at the intersection between robotics and biology. These ‘living robots’ may lead to revolutionary advancements in medicine along with other fields.

131 comments
  1. Pingback: Accounting degree
  2. Pingback: E-Learning
  3. Pingback: Dental Education
  4. Pingback: academic plan
  5. Pingback: pull ups
  6. Pingback: salle de parkour
  7. Pingback: Fiverr Earn
  8. Pingback: Fiverr Earn
  9. Pingback: Fiverr Earn
  10. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  11. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  12. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  13. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  14. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  15. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  16. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  17. Pingback: shipping broker
  18. Pingback: fiverrearn.com
  19. Pingback: frenchie red eyes
  20. Pingback: bernedoodles
  21. Pingback: isla mujeres
  22. Pingback: jute rugs
  23. Pingback: blogging
  24. Pingback: Children jewellery
  25. Pingback: what is seo
  26. Pingback: bulldogs puppy
  27. Pingback: grey bulldog
  28. Pingback: fue
  29. Pingback: six sigma
  30. Pingback: Piano trading
  31. Pingback: Piano transport
  32. Pingback: FUE
  33. Pingback: FUE
  34. Pingback: FUE
  35. Pingback: FUE
  36. Pingback: FUE
  37. Pingback: Moving trucks
  38. Pingback: Safe moving
  39. Pingback: citi.com/activate
  40. Pingback: Classic Books 500
  41. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  42. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  43. Pingback: Fiverr
  44. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  45. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  46. Pingback: Speaker
  47. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  48. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  49. Pingback: Sefton Onlyfans
  50. Pingback: pupuk organik
  51. Pingback: partners
  52. Pingback: livpure buy
  53. Pingback: awaken xt
  54. Pingback: resurge
  55. Pingback: Betting tips
  56. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  57. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  58. Pingback: FiverrEarn
  59. Pingback: live sex cams
  60. Pingback: live sex cams
  61. Pingback: live sex cams
  62. Pingback: cheap sex cams
  63. Pingback: live sex cams
  64. Pingback: frt trigger
  65. Pingback: 늑대닷컴
  66. Pingback: Kasino online
  67. Pingback: Best Korean makeup
  68. Pingback: o/s informatique
  69. Pingback: ecole 2600
  70. Pingback: Nangs delivery

Comments are closed.

You May Also Like

The Cobalt Rush in Congo: a once undesirable metal skyrockets in demand

Cobalt was named after German ‘kobolds’ or goblins for its tendency to…

Why the term ‘Junk DNA’ is so misleading

Less than five percent of our genome is responsible for synthesizing proteins.…

The silent speech of plant life

Though brainless, plants can talk! Sometimes I find myself thinking the same…

Infinite potential in mining asteroids from space

Asteroids carry immense amounts of minerals that dwarf the Earth’s supply. Asteroid…