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“Neurobots” wire self-organizing circuits, pointing the way to programmable biological machines

Neurobots—xenobots with neurons—show self-organized nervous systems and enhanced behaviors, revealing new insights into how biology builds functional structures.

By Benjamin Boettner (BOSTON) — Biobots, whose growing line of variants started with Xenobots, are fascinating tiny self-powered living robots built exclusively using frog embryonic cells. Originally ...

Tiny neurobots made from frog cells exhibit complex movements with simple neural networks

A great deal is known about the formation and architecture of biological neural networks in animal models, which have arrived at their current structure-function relationship through evolution by natu...

The notion of “adapt or die” is an underlying principle of Darwinian evolution theory. This adaptation, known as plasticity, refers to the ability of organisms to alter their physical appearance or phenotype in response to environmental change. More specifically, neuroplasticity refers to the ability of nervous systems to change structurally and functionally in response to changes, including sensory input or physical injury. This type of adaptation or evolution normally happens over years or millions of years — but what are the limits of neuroplasticity during a short developmental stage in a non-standard body? For example, engineering eyes into the tail of a Xenopus tadpole gives the tadpole a sense of light perception, even though these “eyes” were not developed through evolution. If this can be achieved, what else is possible? To answer this, a novel biological system is needed. Researchers at Tufts University and Harvard University created tiny living “neurobots” that grow their own brain cells and use them to move, offering insights into how nervous systems function in new environments. Building novel biological forms Traditionally, 2D neuronal cell culture models are used to understand neural development and disease mechanisms. However, such models do not reflect the complexity of neural...

Researchers from the University of Glasgow will lead a £4M project to develop AI-powered neurobots as a novel epilepsy treatment.

“Neurobots” wire self-organizing circuits, pointing the way to programmable biological machines

“Neurobots” wire self-organizing circuits, pointing the way to programmable biological machines

“Neurobots” wire self-organizing circuits, pointing the way to programmable biological machines

“Neurobots” wire self-organizing circuits, pointing the way to programmable biological machines

“Neurobots” wire self-organizing circuits, pointing the way to programmable biological machines

“Neurobots” wire self-organizing circuits, pointing the way to programmable biological machines

Biobots, whose growing line of variants started with xenobots, are fascinating tiny self-powered living robots built exclusively using frog embryonic cells.

“Neurobots” wire self-organizing circuits, pointing the way to programmable biological machines

“Neurobots” wire self-organizing circuits, pointing the way to programmable biological machines