Better Cytoskeletons in Colonial Cells?

[Margret Storm]

I've been wondering about makeshift organic analogues for parts of the body that could be used in combination with robotics (in effect giving a cyborg pet that can be "fed" via solution baths). It's mostly all far-off sci-fi speculation, but one tissue in particular strikes me: muscle.

It's been established that actually growing muscle cells in petri dishes is difficult because of the various surrounding fluids, nutrients and hormones needed. However, would it be possible to transfer the genes for the formation of the cytoskeleton over to a more easily tended colonial protist? (Slime molds already move, but in more of a migration pattern, and a very slow one, at that; I'd be thinking of more tightly knit cells, to allow for a kind of movement like a slug or jellyfish. The only sort I can think of off the top of my head even close to this is something like Volvox, though.)

Thanks in advance for sating my curiosity on the possibilities of modern biotech =)

[Cathal Garvey]

Hi Margaret,
The problem with growing functional muscles in-vitro isn't so much the
presence of a cytoskeleton, it's the issue of precisely forming a pretty
complex contractile apparatus in each cell, and having each cell's
apparatus facing the same way. In vitro, this isn't so easy to achieve:
there's no "context" to provide cells with cues on where to align
themselves, or where they should adhere to form a coherent tissue.

Single-celled swarmers like slime moulds don't use the same method as
muscles to achieve motion, AFAIK: they use methods like pseudopodia,
cilia and other simple strategies and move as a swarm rather than a
tissue. There's not much parallel to muscles there.

There is a lot of work toward culturing effective muscle, but it's for
an unlikely use; in-vitro meat. So, there's a keyword that might be
helpful in finding what you're looking for! :)

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[Nathan McCorkle]

If you check my YouTube page, ntm787 (or nmz787, I can't remember) you'll see some videos of beating chicken heart cells I cultured... it was really easy.  Some dissection tools and growth media

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[Phil]

On Sunday, 15 July 2012 01:40:38 UTC-4, Nathan McCorkle wrote:

If you check my YouTube page, ntm787 (or nmz787, I can't remember) you'll see some videos of beating chicken heart cells I cultured... it was really easy.  Some dissection tools and growth media

Did you start with a live chicken?

[Nathan McCorkle]

I didn't, but that would have worked.

I was provided fertilized eggs with embryos inside, they were still
pretty gooey so they didn't wake up and look at me or move around, but
I'd say most of the organs were there, and likely most cell lines
present

Cardiac cells beating in culture: a laboratory exercise
http://www.nabt.org/websites/institution/File/pdfs/american_biology_teacher/2007/069-07-0407.pdf

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Rochester Institute of Technology
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