Behavioral, Physiological, and Transcriptional Mechanisms of Memory in a Synthetic Living Construct

Could novel biobots exhibit sensing and memory of experiences? Here, we investigated the effects of chemical stimuli on basal Xenobots – autonomously motile entities derived from Xenopus embryonic ectodermal explants (with no additional sculpting or bioengineering).

We quantified and characterized the coordinated ciliary activity that generates fluid flow fields guiding the trajectory of Xenobot motion. We also show distinct and specific changes in Xenobot behavior after brief exposure to Xenopus embryonic cell extract and to ATP. These two experiences produced distinct, long-term, stimulus-specific memories, detectable through both transcriptional and physiological signatures.