For the first time, scientists have created animal cells that can harness sunlight for energy—a feat once thought biologically impossible. This breakthrough fuses the worlds of plant and animal biology, with implications that could redefine medicine, biotechnology, and sustainable food production.
By engineering “planimal” cells capable of photosynthesis, researchers have opened a doorway to innovations like self-sustaining tissues and lab-grown organs. But is this the first step toward a greener future—or just the beginning of a far more complex biological revolution?
The Science behind “Planimal” Cells
The research team, led by Professor Sachihiro Matsunaga, accomplished what many thought impossible. They successfully introduced chloroplasts – the cellular structures responsible for photosynthesis – from red algae into hamster cells.
The real surprise came when these chloroplasts not only survived but continued functioning for up to two days, carrying out photosynthetic electron transport and providing energy to their host cells. (ref)
The team’s methodology was particularly innovative, using a specialized technique to transfer the chloroplasts without damaging either the organelles or the recipient cells. This delicate process required precise timing and careful manipulation of cellular conditions to ensure the chloroplasts could establish themselves within their new animal cell hosts.
Breaking through Biological Barriers
Previous attempts to create photosynthetic animal cells faced significant challenges. Animal cells typically destroy foreign structures like chloroplasts immediately, and the high operating temperature of animal cells (around 98°F) usually prevents chloroplast function.
The team cleverly overcame these obstacles by using chloroplasts from a specific type of red algae called Cyanidioschyzon merolae, which naturally thrives in hot springs and can photosynthesize at higher temperatures.
This breakthrough required overcoming several fundamental biological incompatibilities between plant and animal cells. The researchers had to ensure that the animal cells wouldn’t reject the chloroplasts while maintaining the precise conditions needed for photosynthesis to occur.
Promising Applications in Medicine & Food Production
This breakthrough could transform several fields, particularly tissue engineering. One of the biggest challenges in growing artificial organs and tissues is ensuring adequate oxygen supply throughout the cellular layers.
These new “planimal” cells could solve this problem by generating their own oxygen through photosynthesis, potentially revolutionizing the development of:
- Artificial organs
- Lab-grown meat
- Skin grafts
- Complex tissue structures
The research showed that cells containing chloroplasts experienced increased growth rates, suggesting that the chloroplasts successfully provided additional energy to the host cells. This enhanced growth capability could be particularly valuable in tissue engineering, where rapid cell proliferation is often crucial for success.
Looking toward a Greener Future
While we’re still far from creating photosynthetic mammals, this research opens exciting possibilities for sustainable biotechnology. The cells demonstrated not only survival but also functional photosynthesis, with about one percent of the treated cells becoming “chloroplast-rich” with seven or more chloroplasts, while twenty percent contained one to three chloroplasts.
The current limitation is that the chloroplasts begin degrading after two days and completely break down by day four. However, the researchers are continuing to develop these “planimal” cells, seeing them as a potential cornerstone of a more carbon-neutral society.
The Next Steps in Research
Scientists are now focusing on extending the survival time of chloroplasts within animal cells and improving the efficiency of the photosynthetic process. Future research will likely explore ways to stabilize the chloroplasts and potentially even pass them on to daughter cells during cell division.
This could lead to the development of permanently photosynthetic cell lines, opening up even more possibilities for sustainable biotechnology applications.
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Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.