A recent study has revealed a third state of organisms, beyond life and death, challenging scientists’ fundamental understanding of cellular behavior.
Traditionally, scientists have viewed death as the irreversible cessation of all functions in an organism.
However, activities such as organ donation are prime examples showing that parts, tissues, and cells can continue to function even after the organism has died.
A new study published in September 2024, led by Professor of Microbiology Peter A. Noble at the University of Alabama, USA, focused on what happens to organisms after they die.
The researchers discovered that when provided with oxygen, nutrients, bioelectricity, or biochemical signals, a certain number of cells can transform into multicellular organisms with new functions after death.
This third state of organisms, beyond life and death, is challenging scientists’ basic understanding of cellular behavior.
While tumors, cell clusters growing in 3D culture environments, and cellular microstreams can divide indefinitely, they are not considered a third state because they do not develop new functions.
In the aforementioned study, skin cells taken from deceased frog embryos were able to adapt to new living conditions, self-organizing into multicellular organisms called xenobots. These organisms exhibit behaviors that extend beyond the biological functions of the original living organism.
Xenobots can move, heal themselves when injured, and interact with their environment (Photo: TUFTS University).
Xenobots can also replicate themselves dynamically, meaning they can reproduce their own structure and function without the need for growth. This is different from the replication process that occurs within the bodies of typical organisms.
Researchers also found that isolated lung cells from the human body can self-assemble into small multicellular organisms capable of movement, referred to as anthrobots.
Anthrobots possess entirely new structures and functions. They can not only navigate their surroundings but can also self-repair and heal nearby damaged nerve cells.
This discovery of a novel third state not only expands the profound understanding of cellular adaptation but also presents new therapeutic opportunities in medicine.
