ROBERT J.R. GRAHAM: The State of Cybernetic Technology

NP: Cybernetic Organisms in the Near Future

By James W. Astrada

Harvard University is proud to present a breakthrough in technology by unveiling the first rat cardiomyocytes that mimic real heart cells with wires running through them. These wires and transistors snake through each cell “spying” on each of its electrical impulses. If successful, future models will have wires that will control the behavior of each organ and cell created. Many versions of these cells have been specifically created for neurons, muscles and blood vessels. Considering the technological promise of change, these could soon replace human body parts that no longer function properly. Harvard’s initial goals are to test for drugs and innovate ways to strengthen or even improve pacemakers or other biological purposes. If these tests run as planned, these “signals” could improve prosthetics by implementing “tiny robots” within the cyborg tissue. For dreams of creating the “six million dollar man,” we may have the technology and knowhow in the near future.

Charles Leiber lead of the research team at Harvard stated that this discovery “allows one to effectively blur the boundary between electronic, inorganic systems and organic, biological ones.” Artificial tissue can already be created on “three dimensional scaffolds” made of some type of biological material not electronically active. Using other biological material such as collagen, wires were inserted to basically control and prevent the growth of this artificial tissue. It seems that this “active material” may have a mind of its own if not control by electronics.

Although only creating rat heart cells, research has shown positive results in that these cybernetic tissue cells react and function as normal heart cells would under different conditions. In human trials, Lieber’s team was able to successfully grow a human blood vessel from cells adding wires. With this never before seen technology, the team was able to study the effects of inflammation or tumor growth that would normally affect human hearts. With this amazing scientific breakthrough, humans in the future may have the ability to prevent heart problems with a cybernetic heart made to last. The team plans on making a connection to this artificial tissue the way neurons do within the human body. The next step would be to communicate with the tissue via wires and the “nanoscaffold.” If these scienitsts are able to mimic the biological process within the human body, imagine the wonders and horrors the future human society would look forward to. It won’t be long before we see half human cyborgs among the population in need of working parts. The only question left is will they be made in the USA or China.

References

Will Ferguson. “Cyborg tissue in living cells, half electronics.” New Scientist (August 2012).

Daily Mail Reporter. “Half man, half machine: Scientists engineer first ‘cyborg’ tissue – which uses living human cells and organic polymers.” Daily Mail U.K . (August 2012).

Peter Reuell. “Merging the biological, electronic: researchers grow cyborg tissues with embedded nanoelectronics.” Harvard Gazette (August 2012).