#scienceiscool – BioQuakes

A soft robot created by Princeton and North Carolina State University engineers was influenced by both modern materials research and ancient paper folding techniques. This robot is designed to go through mazes with ease. Soft robots are typically less flexible and more rigid when equipped with steering equipment. But in order to preserve the robot’s flexibility, this innovative design incorporates the steering mechanism right into the body of the machine.

Moreover, the robot consists of modular, cylindrical segments that can operate independently or combine to form longer units. The cylindrical segments, with a Kresling pattern, allows them to twist and expand. This motion enables the robot to crawl and change direction.With this design, they are able to be more flexible. This flexibility allows the robot to do multiple tasks such as crawl forward/backward, pick up items, and assemble into longer forms. Additionally, each part of the robot can act as an individual unit and communicate with other parts to assemble/ separate as needed; these parts are connected by magnets. When looking to the future, researchers hope that the soft robots and the technology around them can grow, repair, and develop new functions based on this modular concept.

Furthermore, the researchers add that it was difficult to control the robot’s bending and folding operations. And so, they created a solution by combining materials that change in size or shape when heated with stretchy heaters composed of a network of silver nanowires. Although the robot’s current pace is restricted, scientists are working to enhance its ability to move in future versions.

Overall, this unique soft robot has potential applications in a number of industries, including aerospace, construction, and medical equipment. The National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation contributed funding for the study.

This topic relates to the AP Biology unit of ecology because the robot’s modular design, where individual segments can operate independently or combine, reflects the concept of modularity seen in ecological systems. In ecosystems, organisms often interact and cooperate with others to form larger structures or achieve common goals, similar to how the robot’s segments work together. And even though I do not have an exact connection to this topic, I am reminded of middle school when my science class was instructed to create their own “robot” out of material from the classroom.

An article titled, New findings on the link between CRISPR gene-editing and mutated cancer cells, discusses how researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have discovered that during gene editing with the CRISPR technique (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats). CRISPR is a component of bacterial immune systems that can break DNA and has been repurposed as a tool for gene editing. During this process, they discovered a protein called p53, which protects cells from DNA damage and gets activated. However, cells with mutated p53 have an advantage in surviving this process, which can lead to cancer.

This relates to Unit 7, Molecular Genetics, in AP Biology because we learned about how genes mutate. Gene mutation refers to a change in the nucleotide sequence of a gene. The researchers’ discovery shows how genes mutate, specifically the p52, and how that can interact with the CRISPR technique.

Furthermore, the study shows that by temporarily inhibiting p53 could minimize the buildup of mutated cells while keeping CRISPR’s efficiency intact. With this research, scientist are on the right path to creating more specific cancer treatments in the future.

Additionally, researchers discovered a network of genes associated with p53 mutations, which contribute to cell enrichment. However, temporarily blocking p53 can reduce this enrichment. The study created CRISPR experiments on isolated cells and examined a database. More study is needed to determine the scope of this problem in healthcare settings. Several research organizations funded the study.

The CRISPR technique for gene editing is beneficial to my own life as I have many family members who have battled cancer. It is extremely discouraging to watch, especially since there is no cure; however, with this technique, I am hopeful that the future will bring advancements to cancer treatment and hopefully one day put an end to the disease. SO, who else is excited to see how far in cancer studies the CRISPR technique can take us?

BioQuakes

AP Biology class blog for discussing current research in Biology

Tag: #scienceiscool

Flexible Robots!

Unraveling Genetic Secrets: CRISPR’s Dance with p53 and Cancer

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