It was recently reported that researchers at Harvard University developed an artificial fish with human heart cells in order to better understand how the organ functions.

Indeed, the biohybrid fish is built using plastic, gelatine, and a two-sided fin of human cardiac cells that could help scientists and health providers the heart’s automatic physical processes. This is particularly vital for regenerative medicine as, understanding the laws that regulate muscular pumps, it will help better treat heart diseases.

The fish was then placed in cell culture for study and it was found out that it swam for 108 days and had a greater swimming speed than a wild fish of a similar size. Besides, the fish’s movement showed that the fin contractions might be a more active process and that the cardiac regulation is autonomous at the level of the actual contractile structures.

Therefore, the team will now be studying how to use the fish to build artificial hearts and find better solutions for heart disease and regenerative medicine.