[Ed] Self-Repairing Biological Microbots

Armitage72 · 14th January 2020, 06:55 AM

Scientists at the University of Vermont and Tufts University have created millimeter-wide biological robots from frog stem cells, shaped by a supercomputer and capable of movement, self-repair, and coordinated action.

Quote:

Scientists have created the world's first living, self-healing robots using stem cells from frogs.
Named xenobots after the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) from which they take their stem cells, the machines are less than a millimeter (0.04 inches) wide -- small enough to travel inside human bodies. They can walk and swim, survive for weeks without food, and work together in groups.
These are "entirely new life-forms," said the University of Vermont, which conducted the research with Tufts University.
Stem cells are unspecialized cells that have the ability to develop into different cell types. The researchers scraped living stem cells from frog embryos, and left them to incubate. Then, the cells were cut and reshaped into specific "body forms" designed by a supercomputer -- forms "never seen in nature," according to a news release from the University of Vermont.
...
Xenobots don't look like traditional robots -- they have no shiny gears or robotic arms. Instead, they look more like a tiny blob of moving pink flesh. The researchers say this is deliberate -- this "biological machine" can achieve things typical robots of steel and plastic cannot.
...
Xenobots could be used to clean up radioactive waste, collect microplastics in the oceans, carry medicine inside human bodies, or even travel into our arteries to scrape out plaque. The xenobots can survive in aqueous environments without additional nutrients for days or weeks -- making them suitable for internal drug delivery.

It reminds me a little of a novel I read, in which the author did research into actual nanotech research and featured nanobots that looked like starfish.

Myriad · 14th January 2020, 07:07 AM

Ingenious! There's no way these things could possibly go wrong.

Robin · 14th January 2020, 07:27 AM

Quote:

biological robots from frog stem cells,

Or as James Jeffrey put it "I, Ribbit'

Darat · 14th January 2020, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by Myriad

Ingenious! There's no way these things could possibly go wrong.

Nope, no way at all, at least they aren't grey.

Roboramma · 15th January 2020, 12:27 AM

Originally Posted by Armitage72

Scientists at the University of Vermont and Tufts University have created millimeter-wide biological robots from frog stem cells, shaped by a supercomputer and capable of movement, self-repair, and coordinated action.

It reminds me a little of a novel I read, in which the author did research into actual nanotech research and featured nanobots that looked like starfish.

Nice. I've been waiting for this since reading Engines of Creation nearly 20 years ago. It always seemed to me that adapting existing biology was the right way to go.

14th January 2020, 06:55 AM	#1
Armitage72 Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 5,187	Self-Repairing Biological Microbots Scientists at the University of Vermont and Tufts University have created millimeter-wide biological robots from frog stem cells, shaped by a supercomputer and capable of movement, self-repair, and coordinated action. Quote: Scientists have created the world's first living, self-healing robots using stem cells from frogs. Named xenobots after the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) from which they take their stem cells, the machines are less than a millimeter (0.04 inches) wide -- small enough to travel inside human bodies. They can walk and swim, survive for weeks without food, and work together in groups. These are "entirely new life-forms," said the University of Vermont, which conducted the research with Tufts University. Stem cells are unspecialized cells that have the ability to develop into different cell types. The researchers scraped living stem cells from frog embryos, and left them to incubate. Then, the cells were cut and reshaped into specific "body forms" designed by a supercomputer -- forms "never seen in nature," according to a news release from the University of Vermont. ... Xenobots don't look like traditional robots -- they have no shiny gears or robotic arms. Instead, they look more like a tiny blob of moving pink flesh. The researchers say this is deliberate -- this "biological machine" can achieve things typical robots of steel and plastic cannot. ... Xenobots could be used to clean up radioactive waste, collect microplastics in the oceans, carry medicine inside human bodies, or even travel into our arteries to scrape out plaque. The xenobots can survive in aqueous environments without additional nutrients for days or weeks -- making them suitable for internal drug delivery. It reminds me a little of a novel I read, in which the author did research into actual nanotech research and featured nanobots that looked like starfish.

14th January 2020, 07:07 AM	#2
Myriad The Clarity Is Devastating Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Betwixt Posts: 17,294	Ingenious! There's no way these things could possibly go wrong.
	__________________ A zømbie once bit my sister...

14th January 2020, 07:27 AM	#3
Robin Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 12,881	Quote: biological robots from frog stem cells, Or as James Jeffrey put it "I, Ribbit'
	__________________ The non-theoretical character of metaphysics would not be in itself a defect; all arts have this non-theoretical character without thereby losing their high value for personal as well as for social life. The danger lies in the deceptive character of metaphysics; it gives the illusion of knowledge without actually giving any knowledge. This is the reason why we reject it. - Rudolf Carnap "Philosophy and Logical Syntax"

14th January 2020, 08:16 AM	#4
Darat Lackey Administrator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: South East, UK Posts: 96,158	Originally Posted by Myriad Ingenious! There's no way these things could possibly go wrong. Nope, no way at all, at least they aren't grey.
	__________________ I wish I knew how to quit you

15th January 2020, 12:27 AM	#5
Roboramma Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Shanghai Posts: 14,150	Originally Posted by Armitage72 Scientists at the University of Vermont and Tufts University have created millimeter-wide biological robots from frog stem cells, shaped by a supercomputer and capable of movement, self-repair, and coordinated action. It reminds me a little of a novel I read, in which the author did research into actual nanotech research and featured nanobots that looked like starfish. Nice. I've been waiting for this since reading Engines of Creation nearly 20 years ago. It always seemed to me that adapting existing biology was the right way to go.
	__________________ "... when people thought the Earth was flat, they were wrong. When people thought the Earth was spherical they were wrong. But if you think that thinking the Earth is spherical is just as wrong as thinking the Earth is flat, then your view is wronger than both of them put together." Isaac Asimov