The electrical blueprints that orchestrate life | Michael Levin

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DNA isn't the only builder in the biological world — there's also a mysterious bioelectric layer directing cells to work together to grow organs, systems and bodies, says biologist Michael Levin. Sharing unforgettable and groundbreaking footage of two-headed worms, he introduces us to xenobots — the world's first living robots, created in his lab by cracking the electrical code of cells — and discusses what this discovery may mean for the future of medicine, the environment and even life itself. (This conversation, hosted by TED's Chris Anderson, was recorded June 2020.)

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24 Comments on The electrical blueprints that orchestrate life | Michael Levin

  1. I didn’t understand why and how did this guy keep a straight face while discussing such interesting magical and crazy things!! Wowowow! Amazing!!

  2. I just heard about this the other day, that starfish can have a limb amputated and then grow a body from that limb. If we can figure out the signals cells use to do this, it would be a game changer. Looks like we are on our way!

    • @For An Angel Well how to look at it, as presented it seems that DNA doesn’t know what to build and where it has everything that is necessary when the baker have decided what it will become = you’ll be an eye and you will be there and the baker knows for all the cells how the structure shall look. Magic.

  3. Finally we realize that biology can not be explained solely by chemistry. Here comes physics and computer science departments to revolutionize biology. Great times.

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