es.euronews.com
Life, Death, and a Third State: Cellular Survival After Death
Scientists discover a "third state" beyond life and death, where cells can continue functioning and self-replicate, challenging traditional biological understanding.
Spanish
United States
HealthDeathEvolutionBiologyLifeCells
University Of Alabama At BirminghamHope City Earl And Manella School Of Biological Sciences
Peter NobleAlex Puzhitkov
- How does the concept of a "third state" impact our understanding of evolution?
- This research challenges the traditional understanding of life and death as a binary state and raises questions about the potential for cellular adaptation and evolution even after an organism's death, potentially influencing evolutionary processes.
- What factors and techniques are crucial for maintaining cell viability after death?
- Maintaining cells post-mortem requires addressing their energy needs and mitigating environmental stressors. Techniques such as freezing can preserve tissue function. Innate survival mechanisms, particularly in stress and immunity-related genes, also play a crucial role.
- How long can cells survive after death, and what factors influence their survival time?
- The survival time of cells after death varies greatly depending on factors like cell type, environmental conditions, and metabolic activity. White blood cells degrade within days, while skeletal muscle cells can regenerate for up to two weeks.
- What are xenobots, and what behaviors do they exhibit that support the concept of a "third state"?
- Xenobots, multicellular structures formed from the cells of dead frog embryos, demonstrate this "third state." They exhibit unexpected behaviors, such as movement and self-replication, demonstrating a capacity for adaptation and evolution beyond their original biological functions.
- What is the "third state" proposed in this study, and how does it challenge our understanding of life and death?
- A new study suggests a "third state" beyond life and death, where cells can continue functioning and even self-replicate after the death of an organism. This challenges traditional understanding of life and death as binary opposites.