We Are Admittedly Creeped Out by These Chunks of Human Brain Matter That Have Lived Longer Than a Toddler
Apart from being creepy, they serve an important purpose. The post We Are Admittedly Creeped Out by These Chunks of Human Brain Matter That Have Lived Longer Than a Toddler appeared first on Futurism .
Scientists have grown human brain organoids for five years in a lab, a remarkable achievement that allows them to study the development of the human brain over an unprecedented period. The previous record for growing these brain-like structures was just 694 days. In a new study published in the journal Nature, an international team of researchers led by Harvard University stem cell researcher Paola Arlotta managed to grow 34 organoids, sequencing their RNA every six months to determine their epigenomic or biological age.
The organoids closely followed the developmental sequence of human brains during gestation and the first years of life, effectively recording the passage of time while retaining a "memory of the developmental steps already performed." This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for studying drug testing, viral infections' effects on neurological development, and human evolution.
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