Hi everyone,
I have written about the amazing role of the microbiome in human functioning before. Here is something about how bacteria can be used to run the brains of robots (mathematical models). Probably bacteria play a similar role in the functioning of our brains too!
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150716091522.htm*************************************************************************
"Basically we were trying to find out from the mathematical model if we could build a living microbiome on a nonliving host and control the host through the microbiome," said Ruder,
"We found that robots may indeed be able to have a working brain," he said.
For future experiments, Ruder is building real-world robots that will have the ability to read bacterial gene expression levels in E. coli using miniature fluorescent microscopes. The robots will respond to bacteria he will engineer in his lab.
The study was inspired by real-world experiments where the mating behavior of fruit flies was manipulated using bacteria, as well as mice that exhibited signs of lower stress when implanted with probiotics.
In the mathematical model, the theoretical robot was equipped with sensors and a miniature microscope to measure the color of bacteria telling it where and how fast to go depending upon the pigment and intensity of color.
The model also revealed higher order functions in a surprising way. In one instance, as the bacteria were directing the robot toward more food, the robot paused before quickly making its final approach -- a classic predatory behavior of higher order animals that stalk prey.
**************************************************************************
Very interesting.....and very confusing. What the heck are we really?!
Cheers.
Sriram
