Scientists Describe a "Third State" of Cells Between Life and Death

Researchers at Tufts University and the University of Vermont showed that skin cells from frog embryos can reorganize into new multicellular structures called xenobots that move using cilia. Similar structures from human lung cells, anthrobots, promoted repair in cultured neural cell sheets in vitro. The "third state" is a descriptive framework, not an accepted classification.

• Xenobots from frog embryo cells move using cilia
• Anthrobots from human lung cells aided neuron repair in vitro
• "Third state" is a framework, not a medical classification
• No evidence of cellular consciousness; debate is over interpretation