March 01, 2022
Researchers at Harvard University and Emory University, both in the USA, have been working together to create a fully autonomous biohybrid fish. This biohybrid fish has been made from human stem cells that were derived from cardiac (heart) muscle cells. The artificial fish swims by recreating the muscle contractions of a pumping heart. Researchers are hopeful that this study will help them create an artificial muscular pump to study and treat heart diseases like arrhythmia.
In earlier research, the biohybrid fish was developed using cardiac muscle cells from rats. However, unlike that device, the new one developed from human cells has two layers of muscle cells, so when one contracts, the other stretches. This causes a contraction that propels the fish, giving it better movement and thus increasing its applications. This biohybrid fish also improves with age as its muscle coordination improves.
Did You Know?
Your heart beats about 1,15,000 times each day.
