Biologists Create 'Zombie Cells' In The Lab Which Outperform Living Counterparts

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**Lordhat**

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/02/14/biologists-create-zombie-_n_2684959.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

Biological researchers have created dead 'zombie' cells in the lab which outperform living cells.

Seriously.

A team at Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico have innovated a technique whereby mammalian cells are coated with silica to form a near-perfect replicas.

The silica replicants can survive greater pressures and temperatures than flesh, and perform many functions better than the original cells did when alive.

By painting the cells with silicic acid in a petri dish, the acid embalms the organic matter in the cell down to the nanometer level.

The silica then acts as a permeable armour, according to Michael Hess at the American Office of Public Affairs.

That means the cell beneath can be used as a catalyst at far greater temperatures than normal.

Heating the silica to around 400C evaporates the protein in the cell, but leaves the silica as a three-dimensional replica of the "formerly living being", Hess said.

"The difference is that instead of modeling the face, say, of a famous criminal, the hardened silica-based cells display internal mineralized structures with intricate features ranging from nano- to millimeter-length scales."
The valuable biological material can thus be converted into a reusable fossil, which could have uses in fuel cells, decontamination and sensor technology, as well as commercial manufacturing.

:ead researcher Bryan Kaehr said in a statement that the research distinguishes between a mummy cell and a zombie cell.

"Our zombie cells bridge chemistry and biology to create forms that not only near-perfectly resemble their past selves, but can do future work," he said, terrifyingly.

**LordofHats**

And so it begins. The apocalypse is nigh!

**kronk**

And so it begins...

Edit: Curses! My haunting dependent clause was ninja'd!

**LordofHats**

Victory!

**Spyral**

So basically they're making statues of cells?

**Grey Templar**

Yeah, they're not alive. Are they?

Its no different than casting a model to make copies.

**Soladrin**

Yeah, just look at it's possible uses. It has nothing to do with zombies. You're just making a 3D cast of something using more durable materials.

Interesting for technological use, no doubt, but it has nothing to do with zombies.

**Frazzled**

Grey Templar wrote:
Yeah, they're not alive. Are they?

Its no different than casting a model to make copies.

Sounds like fossilized cells to me. Not sure what the point is.

**Grey Templar**

I suppose they can study the durable cast to see what the cells structure looks like. And maybe get ideas on how to improve nano-technology.

**kronk**

Frazzled wrote:
Grey Templar wrote:
Yeah, they're not alive. Are they?

Its no different than casting a model to make copies.

Sounds like fossilized cells to me. Not sure what the point is.

Zombies, damn you! The point is zombies!

I have all these guns and bullets. Where are my zombies?

**timetowaste85**

Time to pull out the blades...

**Snrub**

Because this research will end well.....

**Paitryn**

The valuable biological material can thus be converted into a reusable fossil, which could have uses in fuel cells, decontamination and sensor technology, as well as commercial manufacturing.

:ead researcher Bryan Kaehr said in a statement that the research distinguishes between a mummy cell and a zombie cell.

"Our zombie cells bridge chemistry and biology to create forms that not only near-perfectly resemble their past selves, but can do future work," he said, terrifyingly.

**Ratbarf**

From what I understood of the article the cells still function after being laced with silica. Meaning that you now have a cell that used to be squishy which is now hard as glass. Think interior microscopic exoskeleton. If I'm right on that then that's pretty darn cool.

**DukeBadham**

Surely they could replicate this on skeletons, and other internal structures to enhance the bodies effectiveness, and help cure some afflictions.

**SilverMK2**

DukeBadham wrote:
Surely they could replicate this on skeletons, and other internal structures to enhance the bodies effectiveness, and help cure some afflictions.

Like many of these kinds of ideas, the processes which form the "better" replacement/augmented parts generally are extremely damaging to the surrounding tissue. Not to mention they will almost certainly be rejected by the surrounding healthy material, will be non-self repairing, and probably fracture at the interface as is the case whenever you implant materials with different material properties into the human skeleton.

**Palindrome**

Reading comprehension fail.

Nothing to see here

**DukeBadham**

SilverMK2 wrote:
DukeBadham wrote:
Surely they could replicate this on skeletons, and other internal structures to enhance the bodies effectiveness, and help cure some afflictions.

Like many of these kinds of ideas, the processes which form the "better" replacement/augmented parts generally are extremely damaging to the surrounding tissue. Not to mention they will almost certainly be rejected by the surrounding healthy material, will be non-self repairing, and probably fracture at the interface as is the case whenever you implant materials with different material properties into the human skeleton.

Oh!

**KalashnikovMarine**

Well then, where is this lab again? *loads shotgun* we finally know where it will begin

**Da Boss**

They almost certainly attached the word "zombie" to drum up some publicity for their research

**MetalOxide**

I don't see how they are 'zombie cells' when they are not reanimated cells, nor are they cells which produce zombie-like features in organisms. I would of called them 'Super Cells' or cells with superhero-like qualities.

**Panic**

yeah,
just gonna leave this here.

No reason... didn't even read the thread.

Panic...

(Please don't spam the forum. I have removed your picture. Kilkrazy.)
('Boooooo Hiss' - Panic.)

**Frazzled**

kronk wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Grey Templar wrote:
Yeah, they're not alive. Are they?

Its no different than casting a model to make copies.

Sounds like fossilized cells to me. Not sure what the point is.

Zombies, damn you! The point is zombies!

I have all these guns and bullets. Where are my zombies?

Wait, you have bullets? How?

**SagesStone**

Come on immortality.

**DutchKillsRambo**

Da Boss wrote:
They almost certainly attached the word "zombie" to drum up some publicity for their research

I'd put the blame more on HuffPo trying to drum up readership.