Life and death are typically seen as opposites, but the emergence of new life forms from dead cells introduces a “third state” that challenges our understanding of cell behavior. Researchers have found that certain cells can transform into multicellular organisms with new functions after an organism has died. This phenomenon is known as the third state.
One example is xenobots, which are formed when skin cells extracted from deceased frog embryos adapt to a petri dish and spontaneously reorganize into multicellular organisms. These xenobots exhibit behaviors that extend beyond their original biological roles, such as navigating and moving through their surroundings.
Another example is anthrobots, which are formed when solitary human lung cells self-assemble into miniature multicellular organisms that can move around. These anthrobots not only navigate but also repair themselves and injured neuron cells.
These findings demonstrate the inherent plasticity of cellular systems and challenge the idea that cells and organisms can evolve only in predetermined ways. The third state suggests that organismal death may play a significant role in how life transforms over time.
Several factors influence whether certain cells and tissues can survive and function after an organism dies, including environmental conditions, metabolic activity, and preservation techniques. Different cell types have varying survival times, and metabolic activity plays an important role in determining which cells can continue to survive and function.
The discovery of the third state has implications for biology and medicine. For example, anthrobots could be sourced from an individual’s living tissue to deliver drugs without triggering an unwanted immune response. Engineered anthrobots injected into the body could potentially dissolve arterial plaque in atherosclerosis patients and remove excess mucus in cystic fibrosis patients.
A better understanding of how some cells continue to function and metamorphose into multicellular entities some time after an organism’s demise holds promise for advancing personalized and preventive medicine.
Source: https://theconversation.com/biobots-arise-from-the-cells-of-dead-organisms-pushing-the-boundaries-of-life-death-and-medicine-238176