Cell intelligence in physiological and morphological spaces [video] • Hacker News Board

Re: Cell intelligence in physiological and morphological spaces [video]

#11

Post by xoxo2212 » Sun, Jan 01, 2023, 11:46 PM UTC

agumonkey wrote: post #7

I think he's handwaving too much stuff [0] but the experiments and path he (and the few in this niche) is pursuing .. seem to be opening a big crack in the biology map. It's also ethically and existentially challenging because some of his results are frankly too wild, unless you planned to grow your own siamese head. There's also a trend I'm sensing, that computing is more and more about tissue configuration (even ou…

> There's also a trend I'm sensing, that computing is more and more about tissue configuration (even outside biology).

I'm curious what do you mean?

Examples?

Re: Cell intelligence in physiological and morphological spaces [video]

#12

Post by agumonkey » Sun, Jan 01, 2023, 11:51 PM UTC

xoxo2212 wrote: post #11

agumonkey wrote: post #7

I think he's handwaving too much stuff [0] but the experiments and path he (and the few in this niche) is pursuing .. seem to be opening a big crack in the biology map. It's also ethically and existentially challenging because some of his results are frankly too wild, unless you planned to grow your own siamese head. There's also a trend I'm sensing, that computing is more and more about tissue configuration (even ou…

> There's also a trend I'm sensing, that computing is more and more about tissue configuration (even outside biology). I'm curious what do you mean? Examples?

Levin's argument is that tissue can find solution through diffuse communication between adjacent cells, no single central control. I can't recall but I've seen this kind of patterns discussed a few times in different fields in the last two years.

Re: Cell intelligence in physiological and morphological spaces [video]

#13

Post by dan_mctree » Mon, Jan 02, 2023, 12:58 AM UTC

This is absolutely stunning. I'm beyond curious what is possible in this space. Could we potentially start regenerating and even redesigning lifeforms, including humans? How about inducing growth of a second brain? Or perhaps we could learn how to merge multiple already existing brains together and see if we can create one more effective brain

Re: Cell intelligence in physiological and morphological spaces [video]

#14

Post by naturedivine » Mon, Jan 02, 2023, 8:29 AM UTC

When we "control" computers from outside, there is nothing observable from within the computer that can denote the control.

In exactly same way, the control is happening from outside cells to make them achieve an objective, which also is set from outside. DNA are only like subroutines to create stuff in localised environment, but not orchestrators of how the overall system is evolving.

Thie type of source of control is in form of information, and that information flow must be top-down, without any cellular or other boundaries.

Re: Cell intelligence in physiological and morphological spaces [video]

#15

Post by akomtu » Mon, Jan 02, 2023, 10:19 AM UTC

Looks like he has discovered the "electric body" that tells cells what lifeform to create. It's an impressive milestone in science, but I hope he grows his cute xenobots in a bulletproof box. He should try to grow xenobots in very different environments and locations.