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A network of glial cells, the logic gates of the gut’s nervous system, are seen in this micrograph. The cells — the dark orbs enveloped in gray — have been colorized according to how they respond to a chemical signal. Credit: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci./Gulbransen Lab ======================================================================================== Revealing the Logic of the Body’s “Second Brain” Scientists discover new science in the gut and, potentially, new leads on how to treat irritable bowel syndrome and other disorders. Researchers at Michigan State University have made a surprising discovery about the human gut’s enteric nervous system that itself is filled with surprising facts....

The cells from a human fetus have been injected into baby mice to create animals which have brains that are half human. Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical said it was like “ramping up the power” of the mouse brain, because human cells are so much more advanced. They found that mice with the human brain cells had memories that were four times better than their siblings who did not have the injections. […] The team created the hybrid mice by injecting “glial” cells from donated human fetuses—left over from IVF—into mouse pups. Glial cells provide support and protection...