The news release from the University of Reading shockingly unveils what may be the first robot controlled exclusively by living brain tissue.

Primitive gray matter is stitched together out of cultured neurons from a rat's brain. Neurons are the cells that relay information across the brain via chemicals called neurotransmitters.

These specialized nerve cells are then laid out in a nutrient-rich medium across a five-by-five inch array of 60-electrodes.

That multitude-electrode array serves as the interface between living tissue and machine. The brain sends electrical impulses to actually drive the wheels of the device and receives impulses delivered by sensors that react to the environment.

This Frankenbot has no additional control from a human or a computer. It must be taught, although it is learning on its own to move its wheels. It learns by mistakes and habit.

Scientists are already speculating what a device like this might do if it were made of human brains. Rat brains have about one million neurons. The human brain has 100-billion.

The creation of this Frankenbot and these groundbreaking experiments now explore the vanishing boundaries between natural and artificial intelligence.

Scientists say the purpose of this experience is to find out how memories are stored in the brain and help combat diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Some say mankind desperately needs this type of research. Others say they fear what might be created as we twist together some sort of cyborg intelligence. What do you think?

---