Artificial intelligence reveals the secrets of the worm 'immortal'

Scientific field

Biology and robotics

Date

8-6-15

Source
http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/06/08/ciencia/1433747121_522455.html

Summary

Planarian (class of Turbellaria) are worms that can be found in fresh water, oceans and wetlands. For his incredible ability to regenerate, the Scottish naturalist John Dalyell defined them as the "immortal worm under the blade of a knife" in the early nineteenth century. Since then, scientists have done all sorts of dirty tricks to planarians: they've cut the head, tail, both longitudinally and have dissected into pieces. It always survives.

But its algorithm has not only successfully replicated what humans have done. In one of the earliest examples of science done by robot (not to be confused with robotics), this system of artificial intelligence discovered at least two new elements to the puzzle of regeneration of these worms. "He predicted the existence of two proteins that should be part of the network," said Levin.

Opinion

In my opinion, if a machine discovers the algorithm of the Turbellaria and confirm the discovery of this system of artificial intelligence, it would be one of the first discoveries made by a machine. There are already robot surgeons, algorithms that outperform humans in an increasing number of activities. Achievements like the human genome would not have been possible without the assistance of powerful computers and no less powerful artificial agents. But finding something new is another thing. The advantage of robotic systems is that they can work out cheaper, faster and with greater accuracy and longer than humans, but we have to thing on the inconvinients it can produce to humns.

Glossary

Dissect: To cut open something, especially a dead body or a plant, and study its structure.

Blade: The flat part on a knife or similar tool or weapon, with a very thin edge used for cutting.