Oldest human brain cells grown in lab 'recorded passage of time'
Peppercorn-sized clumps of human brain cells grown in a lab for a record seven years aged similarly to those inside our heads, suggesting they "recorded the passage of time," scientists said Wednesday.
Scientists have grown human brain cells in a lab for an unprecedented seven years, with these tiny clumps of cells, called organoids, aging similarly to those found inside human brains. This achievement suggests that the organoids record the passage of time, as they continue to change and mature despite never having been part of an embryo or body.
The research, led by a team from the United States and published in the journal Nature, could help shed light on the development of various brain disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. The organoids, which are grown from stem cells, normally live for only a few months, but the seven-year experiment demonstrates their potential to provide a more extended window into early human brain development.
By comparing the organoids' aging patterns with those of normal brain cells using three genetic clocks, researchers confirmed that the organoids underwent developmental changes similar to those observed in regular brain cells. A particularly intriguing finding involved mixing older cells with younger ones, resulting in the older cells "jumping ahead" in development and forming neurons at an accelerated rate.
While the organoids do not possess consciousness or higher-order brain functions, they serve as valuable biological models for studying human brain cells and testing new medications without the need for animal testing. The previous record for the oldest grown brain organoids was just under two years, making this new seven-year record a significant breakthrough.
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