Some studies have reportedly shown that for some cells, death is not the end. Xenobots, a lab-designed multicellular organism originally tiny cells found in a frog's embryo, exhibit properties that are controversial and sometimes extraordinary. They are not robots; they are biological machines that were assembled by scientists with the help of certain computer-based tools.These xenobots perform more roles beyond their functions. For example the cells designed by &nbsp;Peter Noble, PhD, a microbiologist from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, along with Alex Pozhitkov, PhD, a bioinformatics researcher at the City of Hope cancer center were from skin and heart, but they could perform tasks like movement using hairlike cilia, collect or push microscopic particles, almost like tiny janitors, self-organise into clusters or repair themselves if damaged, perform collective behaviors. This was baffling because these cells did not behave the same way within the frog. These cells were natural cells, but were given a new job in a new structure.&nbsp;The scientists concluded that cells can reorganise into a new form and new structure in a new environment. It implies a state of biological autonomy that exists outside, irrespective of the organism as a whole. The authors argue that xenobots form a kind of “third state” of life, wherein cells can reorganise after the death of an organism to form something new. These forms likely wouldn’t materialise in nature, but xenobots show that cells have a surprising ability to adapt to changes in their environment. Experiments with human cells, or “anthrobots,” exhibit this behaviour, too.Our life and our death were supposed to be the two states. But the third state of the xenbots autonomy at the cellular level does not fit both life and death, but lies somewhere in the grey zones. &nbsp;“The third state suggests that (an organism’s) death may play a significant role in how life transforms over time,” wrote the authors in the conversation.&nbsp;

Xenobots made from frog cells show surprising autonomy, raising questions about a possible third state of life beyond life and death.

Some studies have reportedly shown that for some cells, death is not the end. Xenobots, a lab-designed multicellular organism originally tiny cells found in a frog's embryo, exhibit properties that are controversial and sometimes extraordinary. They are not robots; they are biological machines that were assembled by scientists with the help of certain computer-based tools. These xenobots perform more roles beyond their functions. For example the cells designed by Peter Noble, PhD, a microbiologist from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, along with Alex Pozhitkov, PhD, a bioinformatics researcher at the City of Hope cancer center were from skin and heart, but they could perform tasks like movement using hairlike cilia, collect or push microscopic particles, almost like tiny janitors, self-organise into clusters or repair themselves if damaged, perform collective behaviors. This was baffling because these cells did not behave the same way within the frog. These cells were natural cells, but were given a new job in a new structure. The scientists concluded that cells can reorganise into a new form and new structure in a new environment. It implies a state of biological autonomy that exists outside, irrespective of the organism as a whole. The authors argue that xenobots form a kind of “third state” of life, wherein cells can reorganise after the death of an organism to form something new. These forms likely wouldn’t materialise in nature, but xenobots show that cells have a surprising ability to adapt to changes in their environment. Experiments with human cells, or “anthrobots,” exhibit this behaviour, too. Our life and our death were supposed to be the two states. But the third state of the xenbots autonomy at the cellular level does not fit both life and death, but lies somewhere in the grey zones. “The third state suggests that (an organism’s) death may play a significant role in how life transforms over time,” wrote the authors in the conversation.

Xenobots made from frog cells show surprising autonomy, raising questions about a possible third state of life beyond life and death.

Is there a place between life and death? Scientists explore the ‘third state’ of life

When you hear a word like 'robot surgeon', you imagine a complex machinery carrying out an operative&nbsp;procedure on a patient. But what about 'anthrobots', does this ring a bell? Well, read on.

Gizem Gumuskaya, a Ph.D. candidate from Tufts University Wyss Institute for Biologically-Inspired Engineering has converted human cells into tiny robots which in turn have found to be aiding human tissue healing in her experiments. These tiny robots are being called 'anthrobots'.

Well, it certainly doesn't mean that we now have an army of tiny cell-robots that can heal you from inside. But the work carried out by Gumuskaya and her team is certainly a step in that direction.

<h2>The work</h2>

To make these anthrobots, Gumuskya chose cells that are found in the lining of the human trachea. These cells have hair-like structures called cilia which help in flow of liquids.

Gumuskaya began by growing thousands of these cells in a 3D Matrix for two weeks. During this period, the cells multiplied and came together forming spheroids.

Watch | NASA to take international astronauts to Lunar Space

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These spheroids were then removed and bathed in a chemical that would make the cilia come out. The manner in which the cilia came out determined the movement of these 'anthrobots'. Some anthrobots were small, round and had cilia evenly spread on their outer surface. Some anthrobots were squiggly and had irregular distribution of cilia on their surface.

Such differences imparted different movements to these anthrobots. Some swam in straight line while others in circles and so on.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ancient-humans-in-europe-would-chop-their-fingers-off-to-appease-deities-study-673096">Ancient humans in Europe would chop their fingers off to appease deities: Study&nbsp;</a>

The research team then tried function of these anthrobots on damaged human tissue.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-devise-way-to-convert-toxic-cigarette-butts-into-green-fuel-673690">Scientists devise way to convert toxic cigarette butts into green fuel</a>

Damaged human neurons were taken in a petri dish and these anthrobots were released. It was seen that these anthrobots moved on their own and formed structures that formed protective bridges through which the neurons could heal themselves.

The study has been published in the journal Advanced Science on November 30, 2023.

(With inputs from agencies)

When you hear a word like 'robot surgeon', you imagine a complex machinery carrying out an operative procedure on a patient. But what about 'anthrobots', does this ring a bell?

When you hear a word like 'robot surgeon', you imagine a complex machinery carrying out an operative procedure on a patient. But what about 'anthrobots', does this ring a bell? Well, read on. Gizem Gumuskaya, a Ph.D. candidate from Tufts University Wyss Institute for Biologically-Inspired Engineering has converted human cells into tiny robots which in turn have found to be aiding human tissue healing in her experiments. These tiny robots are being called 'anthrobots'. Well, it certainly doesn't mean that we now have an army of tiny cell-robots that can heal you from inside. But the work carried out by Gumuskaya and her team is certainly a step in that direction. The work To make these anthrobots, Gumuskya chose cells that are found in the lining of the human trachea. These cells have hair-like structures called cilia which help in flow of liquids. Gumuskaya began by growing thousands of these cells in a 3D Matrix for two weeks. During this period, the cells multiplied and came together forming spheroids. Watch | NASA to take international astronauts to Lunar Space × These spheroids were then removed and bathed in a chemical that would make the cilia come out. The manner in which the cilia came out determined the movement of these 'anthrobots'. Some anthrobots were small, round and had cilia evenly spread on their outer surface. Some anthrobots were squiggly and had irregular distribution of cilia on their surface. Such differences imparted different movements to these anthrobots. Some swam in straight line while others in circles and so on. Also Read | Ancient humans in Europe would chop their fingers off to appease deities: Study The research team then tried function of these anthrobots on damaged human tissue. Also Read | Scientists devise way to convert toxic cigarette butts into green fuel Damaged human neurons were taken in a petri dish and these anthrobots were released. It was seen that these anthrobots moved on their own and formed structures that formed protective bridges through which the neurons could heal themselves. The study has been published in the journal Advanced Science on November 30, 2023. (With inputs from agencies)

Research team converts human cells into ‘bots’ that repaired tissue damage

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