Muscle Tissue Biobot Responds to Light

Mar-16-16 Researchers have created a worm-like biobot powered by muscle tissue that responds to stimulus from light.

Developed by a team from the University of Illinois, the biobot is made up of lab-grown rings of muscle tissue derived from mouse cells. The tissue was genetically engineered to respond to certain wavelengths of light, causing the bot’s muscle cells to contract. By attaching the muscle rings in different configurations, a variety of bots can be designed for a range of applications.

According to lead researcher Rashid Bashir, “With the rings, we can connect any two joints or hinges on the 3D-printed skeleton. We can have multiple legs and multiple rings. With the light, we can control which direction things move. People can now use this to build higher-order systems.”

More Info about this Invention:

[DISCOVERY.COM]
[PNAS.ORG]

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