By introducing reflection-producing genes, Alon Horodetskyi and his research team were able to reproduce the squid’s ability to camouflage in human cells.

Researchers focused leukophores – skin cells that contribute to structural coloration with the help of proteins called reflectins. Reflectors often aggregate together to form nanoparticles that can reflect white visible light. Researchers can control transparency by controlling reflections in these cells.

Researchers manage to adjust transparency by introducing squid proteins into mammalian cells / Photo ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering

The scientists discovered that when salt is added to the medium of cell cultures, the reflection in human cells begins to clump together into larger nanoparticles. He let them set transparencycontrol the amount of salt.

Why is this necessary?

While this invention is not intended to create invisible humans, it is an important step towards studying the unique abilities of cephalopods. The research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society and its results were hailed as an important step in the field of biomimicry. Thanks to this new technology, scientists can now investigate the active camouflage mechanisms of squid and other cephalopods.