Researchers create new life forms from cells of dead organisms

Researchers have discovered that certain cells from dead organisms can form new multicellular life-forms, challenging traditional views of life and death. These cells can adapt and perform new functions when provided with nutrients and other conditions, demonstrating unexpected resilience. For example, skin cells from deceased frog embryos can reorganize into xenobots, which move and replicate without growing. Similarly, human lung cells can self-assemble into miniature organisms that navigate and repair nearby damaged cells, indicating significant cellular plasticity. The study highlights how environmental factors and metabolic activity influence cell survival after death. Understanding these processes may lead to new medical treatments, such as engineered cells that can deliver drugs or remove blockages in patients, while ensuring they have a limited lifespan to prevent invasiveness.