Researchers at the University of Tokyo have successfully integrated chloroplasts into animal cells, allowing them to perform photosynthesis. By treating chloroplasts as food rather than implants, the team bypassed the animal cell immune response, enabling the cells to produce their own oxygen and energy from light. This breakthrough could solve a major bottleneck in the production of lab-grown meat and engineered tissues. By generating oxygen internally, these cells can grow in denser layers without dying off, potentially lowering the environmental footprint of meat production and advancing medical treatments for organ oxygenation.
