Scientists Design Programmable Cyborg Cells for Study With Ultraviolet Sensitive Hydrogel Matrix

David Nield writing in ScienceAlert describes how scientists created artificial programmable, non-reproducing cells with a hydrogel matrix sensitive to UV light allowing physical property adjustments. Through a complex chemical process, scientists have been able to develop versatile, synthetic ‘cyborg’ cells in the lab. They share many characteristics of living cells while lacking the ability to divide and grow. That non-replication part is important. For artificial cells to be useful, they need to be carefully controlled, and that can’t happen as easily if they’re propagating in the same way that actual cells do. The researchers behind the new development think…