Scientists at the University of Vermont recently created the first “living machines” through the stem cells of the African clawed frog. Able to self-heal and regenerate, these tiny creatures could later be used to help perform non-invasive surgeries and assist in many fields of study.

“It’s a new class of artifact: a living, programmable organism,” Joshua Bernard, one of the researchers, said.

One fear with these organisms is that, if further developed, they could potentially be used as a biological weapon. However, this fear is far off, and requires much more research to become a tangible threat. For now, the researchers plan to continue their study and endeavor to fully understand the scope of these tiny critters.