Rewritten Article:
Living Mini Bots Made from Human Cells Shock Scientists
Researchers from Tufts University and the Wyss Institute at Harvard University have developed tiny, living robots called "human bots." These robots, also known as Xenobots, are made from stem cells derived from African clawed frog embryos (Xenopus laevis).
Study lead author Michael Levine, Vannevar Bush Professor of Biology at Tufts University's School of Arts and Sciences, stated that many people believe the properties of Xenobots are largely due to the fact that they are embryonic and amphibian, but Levine believes that it has nothing to do with the frog's identity. Instead, he sees it as a more general property of living organisms.
"We don't understand all the abilities of our own body cells," Levine said. "These don't become full-fledged organisms while alive, as they don't have a complete life cycle."
Levine went on to say that they are pushing beyond traditional binary categories in biological research, such as is it a robot, is it an animal, is it a machine? "We need to go beyond that," he said.
The study was published in the journal Advanced Science on Thursday.
How are they Made?
The scientists used adult cells from the windpipe or lung airway of donors of various ages and genders. One of the study's authors, Gizem, mentioned that the researchers focused on these types of cells because they are relatively easy to obtain and because scientists believe that these cells have the ability to move. Gumuskaya is a doctoral student at Tufts University.
The windpipe cells are covered in hair-like protrusions called cilia, which normally help the windpipe cells move small particles into the lungs. Early research has also shown that these cells can form organoids, which are often used in research.
Gumskaya experimented with the chemical composition of the growth conditions for tracheal cells and found a way to make the cilia on the organoids stand out. Once the right substrate was found, the organoids became mobile within a few days, with the cilia acting like fins.
"Nothing happens in the first, second, fourth, or fifth day, but just like in biology, things often change around the seventh day," Gumskaya said. "It's like a blooming flower. By the seventh day, the cilia have turned around and are now visible on the outside."
"With our approach, each robot is created from a single cell," she said.
The self-organization of the cells is what makes these robots unique. Levine said other scientists have created biobots, but they have to be built by hand, molding forms and seeding them with stem cells that can grow into the desired shape.
Different Shapes and Sizes
The robots created by the team are not all identical.
Some are spherical and covered entirely in cilia, while others have a more irregular shape and uneven cilia coverage. They move in different ways, some in straight lines, others in small circles, and still others spinning and rotating, according to a press release about the study. The robots were able to survive for 60 days under laboratory conditions.
Levine and Gumuskaya said the experiments described in this new study are still in a very preliminary stage, with the ultimate goal being to determine if robots have medical applications. To find out if such an application is possible, the researchers tested whether the robot can move human neurons in lab dishes, which had been damaged to simulate injuries.
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The tiny living robots, known as Xenobots, are made using cells from human windpipes and lung airways. Michael Levine, a co-author of the study and Vannevar Bush Professor of Biology at the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University, mentioned that these robots do not have a complete lifecycle like other organisms because they lack certain essential biological processes.
Despite their odd origin, the Xenobots can exhibit behaviors typically associated with living organisms, like movement, exploration, and interacting with their surroundings. The potential applications of Xenobots in medicine and other fields are being explored by scientists, who believe these tiny robots could have the ability to perform tasks beneficial for human health and well-being on a global scale.
The world may soon see the emergence of a new generation of tiny robots made from human cells, capable of performing tasks previously thought impossible. These robots could revolutionize various fields, from medicine and biology to engineering and technology, and offer solutions to some of humanity's most pressing challenges.
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Enrichment Data:
The creation of tiny living robots, such as Anthrobots, involves engineering cells to self-assemble and exhibit complex behaviors. This process involves harvesting adult human lung epithelial cells from donors of various ages and genders. These cells self-assemble into multicellular structures by binding together through proteins called cell adhesion molecules. The distribution and shape of cilia on these cells influence their behavior, enabling them to move and interact with their surroundings.
The potential applications of Anthrobots in medicine, environmental science, and interdisciplinary research make them an exciting area of study. In regenerative medicine, they can promote tissue repair and regeneration by inducing neural cell growth across damaged areas. In environmental applications, the study of Anthrobots can inform relationships between genomes, anatomy, and behavior. These insights can lead to advancements in sustainable construction. The interdisciplinary approach of creating Anthrobots can also lead to breakthroughs in various fields, including robotics, architecture, and space exploration.
Regarding ethical considerations, the biodegradable nature of Anthrobots and their wild-type genome pose minimal environmental risks. They are not created from human embryos and are not subject to strict research limitations. They also do not pose genetic risks as they do not undergo genetic modification. Their limited environment and natural lifespan ensure they cannot leave the laboratory and survive outside their specific conditions.
