ClassX Video Lessons Subjects Artificial Intelligence The World’s First “Living” Robots Just Got an Upgrade, Meet Xenobot 2.0
In 2020, the world was introduced to a groundbreaking innovation: the xenobot, a living robot capable of movement, self-healing, and teamwork. These tiny organisms have now evolved into something even more remarkable, with the introduction of xenobot 2.0, which boasts enhanced features, including the ability to remember.
The original xenobots were created by a team of biologists and computer engineers from Tufts University and the University of Vermont. These micro-machines, less than a millimeter wide, were designed to work together to move small objects. They were crafted using skin and heart muscle cells from the embryos of the African claw-toed frog. The team employed a sophisticated algorithm to design various xenobot shapes, which were then brought to life through precise microsurgery. Depending on their intended tasks, these xenobots took on different forms, from simple blobs to more complex hollow structures.
While the original xenobots used muscle cells for movement, xenobot 2.0 utilizes cilia—tiny hair-like structures that function like oars, propelling the organism through water. By extracting skin stem cells from frog embryos, the researchers allowed these cells to naturally self-assemble into spheres. After about four days, the presence of hundreds of cilia enabled the xenobots to swim freely, showcasing a new form of propulsion.
The genetic material from the frog is preserved in these xenobots, allowing them to recover from damage. While the original xenobots could self-repair, xenobot 2.0 is even more resilient, healing from a full-length cut in just five minutes. Tests have shown that all injured xenobots can completely heal within 15 minutes and resume their activities.
One of the most exciting advancements in xenobot 2.0 is its ability to remember. This is achieved by injecting mRNA into the frog embryo before harvesting the stem cells. The mRNA codes for a fluorescent protein called EosFP, which emits green light but turns red when exposed to specific blue light wavelengths. Researchers demonstrated this memory capability by exposing some xenobots to blue light, causing them to emit red light, while those unexposed remained green.
By proving that xenobots can be engineered to record memory, scientists envision using this feature to detect light, radioactive substances, chemical pollutants, and diseases. In the future, this memory capability could even trigger behavioral changes in response to environmental stimuli.
The potential applications of xenobots are vast, from cleaning up oceans to advancing regenerative medicine. Researchers are currently focused on understanding how cells communicate to form organisms and identifying the genomes necessary for creating more advanced living robots. The team behind xenobot 2.0 has established the Institute for Computationally Designed Organisms to continue developing living robots capable of more complex tasks.
As we look to the future, the possibilities for xenobot 3.0 are endless. What would you like to see these tiny bots achieve? Share your thoughts and ideas. If you’re curious about the origins of xenobots, check out our video on the first xenobot. Don’t forget to subscribe to Seeker for more fascinating science updates. Thank you for joining us on this journey!
Using a computer simulation tool, design your own xenobot. Experiment with different shapes and cell types to see how they affect movement and functionality. Discuss your design choices with your peers and explain how they relate to the concepts of movement and self-healing in xenobot 2.0.
Participate in a lab simulation where you inject mRNA into a virtual frog embryo. Observe how the xenobot’s memory is triggered by light exposure. Record your observations and discuss the implications of memory in living robots with your classmates.
Engage in a structured debate about the ethical implications of creating living robots like xenobot 2.0. Consider topics such as environmental impact, potential misuse, and the future of biotechnology. Prepare arguments for both sides and present them to the class.
Research potential future applications of xenobots in fields such as medicine, environmental science, or robotics. Create a presentation to share your findings with the class, highlighting how xenobot 2.0’s features could be utilized in real-world scenarios.
Work in groups to brainstorm and develop a vision for xenobot 3.0. Consider advancements in technology and biology that could enhance xenobot capabilities. Present your group’s vision to the class, detailing the potential benefits and challenges of your proposed advancements.
In 2020, the world was introduced to a living robot known as the xenobot. This microscale organism could move, self-heal, and collaborate with other bots to achieve common goals. Now, these features have received a significant upgrade, including the ability to remember. Meet xenobot 2.0.
The original xenobots were developed by a team of biologists and computer engineers at Tufts University and the University of Vermont. These micro-machines measured less than a millimeter wide and could work together to push payloads. They were formed using skin and heart muscle cells harvested from the embryos of the African claw-toed frog. The team utilized a sophisticated algorithm to generate various xenobot designs. Scientists then performed microsurgery to shape the stem cells according to the algorithm, resulting in a variety of forms, from simple blobs to hollow structures, depending on the task at hand.
Xenobots could propel themselves in straight lines and circles and gather loose particles into small heaps. Now, xenobots are advancing to the next level. Instead of using muscle cells, xenobot 2.0 moves using cilia, which are tiny hair-like structures that function similarly to how oars propel a rowboat through water. By extracting skin stem cells from the frog’s embryo, the team allowed the cells to self-assemble naturally. They formed into spheres, and after about four days, some of the stem cells began to move, thanks to the presence of hundreds of individual cilia along the cell surface. This development allows the self-assembled cells to swim freely, using their cilia for propulsion.
The genetic makeup from the frog has been preserved, allowing for recovery from damage. While the original xenobots could self-repair, the next generation is even more durable, capable of healing from a full-length cut in just five minutes. Testing has shown that 100% of injured xenobots completely heal within 15 minutes and return to their previous activities.
The most significant upgrade of xenobot 2.0 is its ability to remember, a feature not present in earlier versions. This is achieved through an injection of mRNA into the frog embryo before harvesting the stem cell tissue. The mRNA codes for a special fluorescent protein known as EosFP, which emits green light but turns red when exposed to specific wavelengths of blue light. Researchers demonstrated this memory functionality by exposing some xenobots to this light, causing them to emit red light while unexposed bots remained green.
By proving that the bots can be engineered to record memory, scientists hope to use this feature in the future to detect light, radioactive substances, chemical pollutants, and diseases. Looking further ahead, the memory functionality could trigger changes in the bots’ behavior in response to their environment.
The potential real-life applications of these xenobots are vast, ranging from ocean cleanup to regenerative medicine. Researchers are currently focusing on understanding how cells communicate to form an organism and the genomes necessary for creating more advanced living robots in the future. The team behind xenobot 2.0 has even launched the Institute for Computationally Designed Organisms to continue developing living robots capable of more sophisticated tasks.
So, what might we see next? Perhaps xenobot 3.0. What would you like to see these little bots accomplish? Let us know in the comments. If you want to learn more about the team’s first xenobot, check out our video on that. Make sure to subscribe to Seeker for more mind-blowing science, and thanks for watching!
Xenobot – A xenobot is a type of synthetic organism created using biological cells, specifically designed to perform specific tasks through programmed behaviors. – Researchers have developed xenobots that can navigate through a petri dish to collect microplastics, showcasing their potential in environmental cleanup.
Biology – Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms, encompassing various fields such as genetics, ecology, and molecular biology. – Advances in molecular biology have significantly contributed to our understanding of genetic diseases and their potential treatments.
Artificial – In the context of artificial intelligence, “artificial” refers to systems or processes created by humans to mimic or replicate natural phenomena, particularly cognitive functions. – Artificial neural networks are designed to simulate the way the human brain processes information, enabling machines to learn from data.
Intelligence – Intelligence in artificial intelligence refers to the capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior, such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. – The development of machine intelligence has led to significant advancements in fields like natural language processing and autonomous vehicles.
Memory – In the context of biology and artificial intelligence, memory refers to the ability to store and retrieve information for future use. – Neural networks with memory components, such as LSTM, are capable of learning sequences and dependencies in data.
Cilia – Cilia are microscopic hair-like structures on the surface of certain cells that can move fluid or cells over their surface, playing a crucial role in various biological processes. – The coordinated movement of cilia in the respiratory tract helps to clear mucus and debris from the airways.
Self-healing – Self-healing refers to the ability of a system, whether biological or artificial, to autonomously repair damage and restore functionality. – Researchers are exploring self-healing materials inspired by biological systems to create more resilient and durable technologies.
Stem – In biology, stem cells are undifferentiated cells with the potential to develop into different cell types, playing a critical role in growth, development, and tissue repair. – Stem cell research holds promise for regenerative medicine, offering potential treatments for conditions like spinal cord injuries and Parkinson’s disease.
Cells – Cells are the basic structural and functional units of life, forming the building blocks of all living organisms. – Understanding the mechanisms of cell division and differentiation is fundamental to advancements in developmental biology and cancer research.
Organisms – Organisms are individual living entities that can function independently, ranging from single-celled bacteria to complex multicellular beings like humans. – The study of microorganisms has led to significant discoveries in biotechnology, including the development of antibiotics and biofuels.
