Scientists Create a Jellyfish from Rat Cells

A group of scientists at Harvard University has become successful in creating a jellyfish by using rat heart cells. Those scientists have reached that remarkable landmark by using heart cells of a rat and a sheet of material made by silicon.

The heart cells were actually used to grow a thin layer of muscles around the silicone-made sheet that looked like the bell of a moon jelly. An electric field was then applied to the sheet that contracted in response and made the 1/3-inch simulated animal propelling through a water tank. The artificial animal propelled in a fashion that was almost similar to that of a real one.

The reason behind those realistic movements was that the scientists had completely imitated the movements of a real jellyfish in this regard. Real jellyfishes make those contractions by sending electrical pulses over their bells just like the artificial one created by the scientists.

Being inspired by this success, the team is now planning to create an artificial octopus.