Biobots arise from the cells of dead organisms − pushing the boundaries of life, death and medicine

Given the right conditions, certain types of cells are able to self-assemble into new lifeforms after the organism they were once part of has died.

By: Peter A. Noble, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Alex Pozhitkov, Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 12, 2026

Words: 1,151

Last Updated: 1 month, 1 week ago

Body Text Preview

By Peter A. Noble, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Alex Pozhitkov, Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope

Life and death are traditionally viewed as opposites. But the emergence of new multicellular life-forms from the cells of a dead organism introduces a “third state” that lies beyond the traditional boundaries of life and death.

Usually, scientists consider death to be the irreversible halt of functioning of an organism …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us