Japanese Team Creates First Hybrid Plant-Animal Cells, Aiming for Photosynthesis

A Japanese research team, including scientists from the University of Tokyo and Kindai University, successfully created the world's first 'planimal' cells by fusing a unicellular alga into cultured animal cells. This breakthrough integrated the alga's DNA into the animal cells' chromosomes. The team's next goal is to activate the alga's genes and chloroplasts to enable oxygen generation through photosynthesis, opening new avenues in biological research.