Life and death have been the subject of human contemplation since ancient times and the concept of a third state had been on the cards. While the existence of an afterlife remains a debatable topic, the traditional view of life and death sees them as opposites: life represents activity and consciousness, while death marks the end of these.
However, recent research suggests that the boundary between life and death may not be as clear-cut as we think. A new study proposes that there might be a “third state” that exists between life and death.
What Is The Third State?
The third state refers to a condition where certain cells retain the ability to function postmortem, essentially existing in a state that defies the traditional understanding of death. This phenomenon is supported by studies showing that cells from dead organisms can adapt to their environments and even develop new capabilities they did not possess while the organism was alive.
In 2021, scientists from the University of Vermont, Tufts University, and the Wyss Institute at Harvard University made a surprising discovery. They found that skin cells from dead frog embryos could organise themselves into living clusters called xenobots in a lab. These xenobots did things the original cells never did when the frogs were alive.
For example, these xenobots used tiny hair-like structures called cilia to move around, something these cells usually wouldn’t do. Even more surprising, these tiny organisms could replicate themselves in a unique process called kinematic self-replication— they multiply without the typical growth process. This shows that cells can continue to live and even gain new abilities after the organism dies.
This raises a big question: if cells can still function after death, does “death” truly mean the end for the body?
How Cells Survive After Death
Scientists Dr Peter Noble from the University of Washington and Dr Alex Pozhitkov from the City of Hope National Medical Center took this research a step further. In their study, published in the journal Physiology, they found that certain cells from dead organisms—like humans and animals—can keep functioning for hours, days, or even weeks after death.
For example, organ donations rely on this very fact—some cells in tissues and organs can stay alive after the donor dies. Lung cells from deceased humans were even found to form tiny new structures called anthrobots. These anthrobots could move, heal themselves, and even repair damaged cells nearby.
The researchers think this “third state” could happen because cells still can adapt, especially when they are given oxygen, nutrients, or bioelectric signals.
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How Long Do Cells Live After Death?
Not all cells survive for the same amount of time after death. Some human cells, like white blood cells, stop functioning within 60 to 86 hours. Other cells, like skeletal muscle cells in mice, can survive up to 14 days. In certain cases, sheep and goat cells can even be cultured for a month postmortem.
The survival of these cells depends on factors like their need for energy, environmental conditions (e.g., temperature), and how they are preserved. For instance, methods like cryopreservation help keep tissue samples functioning for a longer time.
Noble and Pozhitkov also found that the genes responsible for stress and immunity become more active after death, likely as a response to the body’s sudden loss of balance.
Why Some Cells Can Survive While Others Die
Several factors influence why some cells last longer than others after death. Things like age, health, and the type of species play a big role. For instance, scientists found it hard to transplant insulin-producing cells because they have high energy demands and are vulnerable to damage after death.
This “third state” between life and death may also rely on the body’s hidden “electrical circuits”. These circuits help cells communicate with each other using electrical signals, allowing them to move, grow, or even reorganise into new structures like xenobots and anthrobots.
Medical Breakthroughs And Ethical Questions
This research opens new possibilities in science and medicine. One exciting potential is using these tiny cellular robots to deliver medicines or repair damaged tissues without the body rejecting them. Anthrobots, for example, could be created from a patient’s cells, minimising the risk of an immune response.
However, this discovery also brings up important questions. If cells can keep functioning after the organism is declared dead, how do we define death, legally and literally? This could have major implications for organ donation, medical treatment, and even our understanding of life itself.
The discovery of a “third state” between life and death is forcing scientists to rethink what it means to be dead. Research on xenobots and anthrobots shows that some cells can continue living and even gain new abilities after the organism dies.
While much remains to be understood, this new knowledge could lead to groundbreaking medical treatments, especially in regenerative medicine. As we uncover more about this mysterious state, we may need to redefine our ideas of life and death.
Sources: Money Control, Economic Times, Earth.in
This post is tagged under: Third State, Life After Death, Cell Biology, Scientific Research, Stem Cells, Xenobots, Anthrobots, Regenerative Medicine, Medical Breakthrough, BioEngineering, Tissue Engineering, Healthcare Innovation, Biotech, Biological Robots, Bio Tech Revolution, Future Of Robotics, AI and Biotech, Cell Survival, Future Of Medicine, Science Daily, Innovative Research, Medical Science, Science Facts, Biology Matter
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