Main points
- Scientists from Tufts University and the Wyss Institute have created neurobots with their own nervous systems capable of complex behaviors.
- Neurobots exhibit complex movement trajectories and activity, and can also respond to light stimuli, opening up possibilities for future applications in biological machines.
Artificial organisms with a nervous system: what neurobots are capable of / Collage 24 Channel/Unsplash/Haleh Fotowat
Modern science has blurred the line between living organisms and machines, introducing the world to neurobots. These tiny structures, created from embryonic cells, demonstrate the ability to self-organize and perform complex behaviors previously thought impossible for artificial biological systems.
How does the mechanism with its own nervous system function?
Researchers from Tufts University and the Wyss Institute have made a breakthrough in the field of synthetic biology by creating neurobots – an improved version of previously known xenobots. The basis for these living machines were cells from the smooth spurred frog (Xenopus laevis). While previous models, known as biobots, consisted mainly of skin cells and were capable of simple movements, the new generation received full-fledged nervous tissue, writes SciTechDaily.
The process of creating a neurobot begins with the extraction of ectoderm cells from an embryo at the blastula stage. These cells naturally assemble into spherical structures covered with cilia – microscopic hairs that enable movement in an aquatic environment.
The key innovation was the introduction of clusters of neural progenitor cells into the center of the future structure during its formation. Within a short time, these cells develop into mature neurons that sprout through the neurobot's body, forming axons and dendrites.
Anatomical studies using microscopy confirmed that neurons inside neurobots not only exist, but also create complex networks. Scientists discovered protein markers associated with synapses – contact points through which signals are transmitted. Using the calcium imaging method, it was possible to record the electrical activity of neurons in real time, which proves their functionality as part of a living mechanism.
How the nervous system is changing robots
The presence of a nervous system has radically changed the physical and behavioral characteristics of organisms. Neurobots have become much larger and longer than their nerveless predecessors. Their movement trajectory has become more complex: instead of simple lines or circles, they show intricate patterns resembling the drawings of a medical spirograph. Moreover, neurobots show higher activity and are much less likely to remain motionless.
To test the effect of neural activity on behavior, the researchers used pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), a drug that causes seizures in vertebrates. The neurobots' response to this substance was significantly different from that of conventional biobots. Most neurobots increased the complexity of their movements, while biobots, on the contrary, became less active. This indicates that the formed neural networks actively control the behavior of artificial organisms.
Analysis of gene activity brought even more surprises. In neurobots, activation of genes responsible for the development of the nervous system and the transmission of signals between synapses was recorded.
Most strikingly, the discovery of the activity of genes related to visual perception, in particular those responsible for the functioning of light-sensitive cells in the eyes, opens up the prospect of creating neurobots capable of seeing and responding to light stimuli in the future.
An interesting aspect of the study, published in Advanced Science, was the transcriptome shift towards “ancient” genes. More than 54 percent of the genes whose activity increased in neurobots belong to the categories of the most ancient genetic structures common to all living organisms. This indicates that new combinations of cells can activate evolutionary memory that is not manifested in standard conditions of organism development.
How long do they live?
Neurobots are able to survive autonomously for 9–10 days, using the internal nutrient stores of embryonic cells. They do not require external scaffolds or genetic modification, remaining completely biological units.
Further study of these systems could answer fundamental questions about how neural networks organize without prior evolutionary history. This platform promises significant advances in regenerative medicine and the creation of intelligent biological machines capable of performing useful tasks in the human body or in the environment.