Scientists from different parts of the world are trying to erase the line between artificial and living organisms in order to eventually create robots capable of self-production of their own kind. The first step to this was recently made by researchers from Cornell University - they created biological material that demonstrates the three key properties of living organisms: self-organization, ability to metabolism and development.

On the basis of the material is DNA, which provides the assembly and synthesis of hierarchical materials. The instructions for metabolism and regeneration are encoded directly in the material and, as a result, it can creep forward due to the production of a substance like mucus. The movement is quite an obvious way - new strands of mucus grow in the front and pull the material forward, while the rear ones die off and decompose.

We have introduced a completely new concept of material based on our own artificial metabolism. We are not doing something alive, but creating materials that look more realistic than ever before.

Scientists assure that all processes occurring with the material are autonomous and do not require human intervention. They compare it with the development of the first life of several types of molecules - perhaps something similar happens with the material. Although the material is very primitive, it still lays the foundation for creating robots similar to living organisms.

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