Posted on 04/27/2017 7:40:30 AM PDT by Red Badger
Scientists have grown the first working 'mini-brains' in a dish which could provide future treatments for autism and epilepsy.
The lab-grown organs have their own brain cells, formed into circuits similar to those of a two-month-old baby in the womb.
Described as 'thrilling science', it is the first time a human forebrain has been seen in action outside the body.
Scientists hope to use the mini-brains to watch in real time the triggers for epilepsy, when brain cells become hyperactive, and autism, where they are thought to form bad connections.
It could pave the way for drugs to treat these conditions, as well as schizophrenia. It is also the next step towards a real-life Frankenstein, suggesting scientists may one day be able to grow an entire human body in the laboratory.
Researchers at Stanford University grew two forebrain circuits, measuring only a sixteenth of an inch across, using only human skin cells.
Then scientists at Harvard University went a step further, growing a mini-organ for more than nine months to create a human retina – the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye.
Responding to the breakthroughs, Professor Paul Matthews, chair of the brain sciences division at Imperial College London, said: 'These reports describe continued advances of the fundamentally important new methods for generation of self-assembled 'brain organoids'. This is thrilling science.'
Video at link..................
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Not poking fun and the intent of the work these folks are doing. If it helps anyone, today or in the future afflicted with autism, God bless them for their work.
See my 9 JUST before your post :)
Well then; all they need is significantly more gov’t funding, even a brain in dish can figure that one out.
I missed it when I posted. I didn’t think of Abby Normal. That was a great movie.
I have to say for some reason I remembered how the girl in the bikini looked more than the brains from the Star Trek episode. Glad you posted. I haven’t figured out how to post pictures.
I hope somebody (or something) from the distant future arrives in time to edit this kind of thing out of existence. That, the Obamas and the Clintons.
Sounds like Paris Hilton back in her younger days.
How do I know this?
Every once and I while when the alien scientists tending our brains are off in meetings I'll start acting all nonchalant whistling a simple tune and then really quickly I'll look out the left side of my eyes and see the electronic cables hooked up to my cerebrum.
The episode was the The Gamesters of Triskelion
There is a FR HTML Sandbox that walks you through how to post pictures and other fun stuff: Here
Have fun!
Green was always reserved for only the hottest space chicks on Star Trek TOS. Wonder why?
>>Green was always reserved for only the hottest space chicks on Star Trek TOS. Wonder why?<<
Actually Kirk never did get it on with a green chick. That was Captain Robert April.
Green was then unusual, thus “alien.”
Correction.
The green alien girl was with Christopher Pike. It was Vina in an illusion generated by the Talosians to make her attractive enough to breed with (not a huge problem for Susan Oliver in 1965).
The heck with Alzheimer’s, let’s shed light on how to fix liberalism...oh, wait, I think they need brains.
That reminds me...there was a place in St. Louis where you could get fried brain sandwiches.
The article says brains, not sphincters!
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