The creation of bot-like organisms has seen a major scientific breakthrough with the invention of the world’s first “living robots” by scientists in the United States. Named “xenobots”, these microscopic entities have been constructed using cells derived from the African clawed frog. With this development, living cells obtained from frog embryos have been successfully repurposed and rearranged into entirely unique life forms.
The Origin of Xenobots
The biomachines or xenobots have been named after the species of the aquatic frog, Xenopus laevis, that is commonly found across sub-Saharan Africa, extending from Nigeria and Sudan to South Africa. Throughout history, human beings have manipulated organisms for utility, starting from the onset of agriculture. The advent of genetic editing has also seen the construction of artificial organisms in recent times. However, this recent research stands out as it marks the first-ever design of “completely biological machines from scratch”.
Capabilities of Xenobots
The xenobots are programmed to perform numerous tasks. They can navigate towards a specified target, potentially pick up an object such as medicine that requires transportation to a particular location within a patient, and even self-heal after getting cut. The potential applications of these living robots are multifarious. They could be used to detect harmful substances or radioactive contamination, collect microplastic in oceans, or navigate through arteries to eliminate plaque buildup.
Why Xenopus Laevis?
Xenopus is a genus of African frogs, which are also referred to as the African clawed frogs. Biologists typically use two species of Xenopus, namely Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis. Both species are completely aquatic and are effortless to keep in captivity.
Xenopus serves as a valuable instrument due to the following reasons:
| Features of Xenopus |
|---|
| Hardy and fully aquatic, thus easy to maintain in the lab |
| Ability to produce eggs all year round |
| Eggs serve as a versatile and reliable material for research |
| Embryos act as a good model for vertebrate development |
| Genetically similar to humans, hence serve as a good model for human disease |
Innovative Biological Machines
These life forms created from scratch mark a revolutionary step in biological research. The xenobots are biological machines designed to perform specific tasks, which could potentially include carrying payloads or healing themselves after incisions. Their invention does not just signal an innovative leap in the field of scientific research but also paves the way for future advancements that might revolutionize the interaction of biology and robotics.
