There has always been a line between life and machine. A daisy, for example, is alive. The iPhone you are reading this on, is not. Researchers from the University of Vermont and Tufts University have blurred that line since 2020, with the groundbreaking creation of the Xenobot – the world’s first living robot.
Despite that popular description, there is no classification for whether the Xenobot is alive or not. It may even belong to a whole different category. So, why is it so hard to classify?
Well, the Xenobot is a human-made life form comprised of living cells – specifically skin and heart cells from African clawed frogs. The heart cells let the microbot move, while the skin cells provide system structure. Some say that because of the restrictive constraints surrounding the Xenobot’s survival, Xenobots cannot technically be considered ‘alive.’
I personally would still consider Xenobots as alive, because there are a lot of life forms that are required to live in very specific environments to thrive. Thermosphaera aggregans is an organism that pretty much only lives in volcanos and magma pools. Either way, Xenobots can walk, glide, swim, transport objects, and even collaborate with other Xenobots on simple tasks.
Design
Xenobots are designed with the help of computer algorithms. AI simulates different configurations of cells to determine the most effective designs for specific tasks. The algorithm then removes virtual Xenobots that don’t match up, and replicate the remaining ones.
Xenobots 3.0
Apparently, newer Xenobots also include cilia that improve their swimming ability.
Progression
After the announcement of Xenobot 1.0, the research team has since created Xenobot 2.0 and Xenobot 3.0. With every addition to the Xenobot repertoire, this ‘organism’ has been growing more advanced. The two later versions have been reported to self-repair, work more with others, and even reproduce in an utterly unique way. Xenobot 3.0 is reported to be able to carry out 5 generations of offspring.
Like all other living things, Xenobots also have a lifespan. Since they still don’t eat, it’s relatively short. The earliest version could live 7-10 days, but improved versions can live up to a month.
Future Applications
Perhaps one of the most promising avenues of the Xenobot is in drug delivery. Xenobots could navigate through the body to targeted areas (e.g. the brain), and release drugs with minimal side effects. Current drug treatments can accidentally be incorporated into the circulatory system, causing side effects. Xenobots can also be designed to release the drugs at intervals or at a controlled rate, ensuring the therapy is consistent.
There are many benefits that the Xenobot can offer in this area. Xenobots could potentially carry a vast array of drugs of different sizes and chemical makeup. They could even be used for treatments in mental illnesses or neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzhiemer’s. Biomaterials have already shown promise in this field. Plus, since Xenobots are made from cells, they are 100% biodegradable – reducing chances of immune reactions and the accumulation of toxic materials in the body.
Additionally, Xenobots could be used for microsurgery. They could be designed to carry out intricate and precise tasks while also being non-surgical, hence significantly decreasing the risk involved in treatment.
There is also a possibility that Xenobots could be used in vaccines. For instance, one study found the potential that these living microbots could target T lymphocytes that were infected with the HIV virus. Theoretically, any vaccine with a similar delivery method could also benefit from Xenobots.
The future of medicine is undoubtedly very exciting, with Xenobots promising a new era where living robots not only enhance our understanding about life itself but also improves healthcare quality.
