Human Cells Engineered with Squid Camouflage.
Scientists have engineered human cells to replicate the camouflage ability of squids. The researchers focused on leucophores, skin cells that facilitate structural coloration through proteins called reflectins. By introducing reflectin-forming genes from squids into human cells and adding salt to the media of the cell cultures, the reflectin in the human cells began to clump together into larger nanoparticles, allowing them to tune the transparency by controlling the amount of salt. The goal is to better image squid skin cells, which could lead to more squid-inspired innovations like liquid windows.