How Cells communicate?
Well by various mechanisms -- which include chemicals. But communication via chemicals can be limited to basic messages. For example, if a cell's network is based on sugar, then it is limited to sending the messages 'more sugar', 'less sugar,' or 'no sugar'. This type of messaging, as can be seen, is limited.
In a breakthrough, researchers at Stanford University have found a way to send "complex" and "powerful" cellular messages using the M13 virus.
Monica Ortiz, a doctoral student in bio-engineering and Drew Endy, PhD, an assistant professor of bio-engineering have discovered Biological Internet, or "Bi-Fi" (Similar to Wi-Fi).
Bi-fi simply means cells engineered with the M13 virus have the ability to send complex DNA messages from cell to cell.
Teh Researchers found that the Cells engineered with M13 step up their messaging capabilities, that's don't just depend on basis messaging, as explained above. Instead, cells engineered with the M13 virus can include any sort of genetic instruction: start growing, stop growing, come closer, swim away, produce insulin and so forth. This is possible because the M13-based system is essentially a communication channel. It acts like a wireless Internet connection that enables cells to send or receive messages, but it does not care what secrets the transmitted messages contain.
According to Researchers, obviously the ability to communicate 'arbitrary' messages is a fundamental leap -- from just a signal-and-response relationship to a true language of interaction.
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