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Researchers Created Artificial Cells That Can Communicate With Each Other (phys.org)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Phys.Org: Friedrich Simmel and Aurore Dupin, researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), have for the first time created artificial cell assemblies that can communicate with each other. The cells, separated by fatty membranes, exchange small chemical signaling molecules to trigger more complex reactions, such as the production of RNA and other proteins. Scientists around the world are working on creating artificial, cell-like systems that mimic the behavior of living organisms. Friedrich Simmel and Aurore Dupin have created such artificial cell assemblies in a fixed spatial arrangement. The highlight is that the cells are able to communicate with each other.
Gels or emulsion droplets encapsulated in thin fat or polymer membranes serve as the basic building blocks for the artificial cells. Inside these 10- to 100-micron units, chemical and biochemical reactions can proceed uninhibited. The research team used droplets enclosed by lipid membranes and assembled them into artificial multicellular structures called micro-tissues. The biochemical reaction solutions used in the droplets can produce RNA and proteins, giving the cells a of a kind of gene expression ability. Small signal molecules can be exchanged between cells via their membranes or protein channels built into the membranes. This allows them to couple with each other temporally and spatially. The systems thus become dynamic, as in real life. Chemical pulses thus propagate through the cell structures and pass on information. The signals can also act as triggers, allowing initially identical cells to develop differently. "Our system is the first example of a multicellular system in which artificial cells with gene expression have a fixed arrangement and are coupled via chemical signals. In this way, we achieved a form of spatial differentiation," says Friedrich Simmel, Professor of Physics of Synthetic Biosystems at Technical University of Munich.
Gels or emulsion droplets encapsulated in thin fat or polymer membranes serve as the basic building blocks for the artificial cells. Inside these 10- to 100-micron units, chemical and biochemical reactions can proceed uninhibited. The research team used droplets enclosed by lipid membranes and assembled them into artificial multicellular structures called micro-tissues. The biochemical reaction solutions used in the droplets can produce RNA and proteins, giving the cells a of a kind of gene expression ability. Small signal molecules can be exchanged between cells via their membranes or protein channels built into the membranes. This allows them to couple with each other temporally and spatially. The systems thus become dynamic, as in real life. Chemical pulses thus propagate through the cell structures and pass on information. The signals can also act as triggers, allowing initially identical cells to develop differently. "Our system is the first example of a multicellular system in which artificial cells with gene expression have a fixed arrangement and are coupled via chemical signals. In this way, we achieved a form of spatial differentiation," says Friedrich Simmel, Professor of Physics of Synthetic Biosystems at Technical University of Munich.
And here we've been worrying about a mechanical grey-goo scenario...
--- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
Picking up strange signals now on 4840KHz
But these cells are already more intelligent than you Mr president. They are communicating and I think they are saying you are about to be impeached. Maybe it's time you flew to Russia and sought asylum with your real friends?
The basic computational value of this is astounding. Read the article and watch the video explaining how different coloured droplets react to input. The red droplet contains a solution of signal molecules that diffuse into the chain of artificial cell compartments to the right. The droplets contain a biochemical system that temporarily responds to this signal. As a result, the droplets light up in a fluorescent green and then darken again -- a 'signal' runs from left to right. Depending how rapid, controllable and scalable these signals are at room temperature they may be useful as replacements for or at least complement current digital optical electronic communications components?
What kind of a crybaby loser are you that you have time to post the same kind of thing in every single Slashdot story? How do you have so much free time on your hands?
I don't even like Trump, but these posts are off-topic and obnoxious. They are having the exact opposite effect from what you expect, junior.
Sounds like you're triggered snowflake.
Next, they will make psychic cells that say "I see apoptosis"
"Liberalism is a very noble idea, currently controlled by some very bad people. Be sure you do not get the two confused.
Next let's make some islet cells please...
Sounds like you're a dumb troll
I am Donald Trump and I approve this message.
It was a dark and Stormy Presidency!
Research was done about 6 years ago.
Sarah?
Donald?
"What kind of a crybaby loser are you that you have time to post the same kind of thing in every single Slashdot story? How do you have so much free time on your hands?"
It's called furlough.
That's the cells that form cellphones.
Sounds like he has a life and you're a loser, as stated. Go get a job and start dating. You'd be surprised at how much having the ability to support yourself and getting laid can make you happy.
Seriously, this could have some useful applications. Being able to create cells with a controllable messaging system could allow for further augments like a insulin monitor or viral detector, or maybe a more accurate sensor for the nervous system. Heck with the right messaging we might be able to trigger actions in other cells. Artificial TCells anyone?
Of course we could also just use them for vector calculations.....
The experiment was setup and run by an outside intelligent actor.
It has no relevence to any claim of Darwinian evolution and will only further bolster arguments for either a creator or creators of some form.