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| Brain organoids in petri dish |
Imagine being able to go into
a lab, sample some skin cells and create a replication of YOUR own BRAIN. Years
ago this might have seem like a storyline for a sci-fi, Hollywood film but with
the remarkable technological advances we have today this is actually possible. These
possibly life-changing “mini brains” are being created by scientists at Ohio
State University.
According to the CNN article, “Human 'mini brains' grown
in labs may help solve cancer, autism, Alzheimer's” written by Thom Patterson, scientists
at Ohio State University have figured out a way to “grow the genetic equivalent
of a nearly complete embryonic human brain” (CNN). The correct term for these
“mini brains” is brain organoids. The brain organoids are grown in petri dishes
from samples of skin cells. The process is quite remarkable scientists sample
adult skin cells, revert them back to stem cells, bathe the cells in a blood-like
solution, and incubate at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit for about three weeks, and
then you have “mini brains”(CNN). These “mini brains” are indeed mini, they
range in size from 2-3 millimeters (like small pieces of dirt!) (CNN). The
brain organoids have a lot of “brain parts.” According to Ohio State biomedical
researcher Rene Anand, the brain organoids in the labs of Ohio State University
“have the most brain parts” (CNN). Anand continued by giving an example, "If
you want to study Parkinson's, you need the mid-brain. The best I can tell from
all published research on organoids is they don't have the mid-brain. We have
the mid-brain we are already moving toward trying to study them" (CNN).
These brain organoids “contain ninety-eight percent of cells that exist in the
brain of a five week human fetus” (CNN).
Not only is the process of creating a “mini brain”
fascinating, the functions, or uses of the “mini brains” are extremely
remarkable. Scientists can use these brain organoids to possibly find a cure
for diseases that affect millions of families across the world (CNN). One
significant breakthrough, they had by using brain organoids is the treatment of
brain cancer. Scientists can actually infect these brain organoids with cancer and
see how tumors develop (CNN). Not only would this be extremely helpful to
better understand the development of tumors, but also this could potentially
lead to a cure for brain cancer. These brain organoids “are a much better way
of predicting drugs that will be more effective for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s
disease” (rather than testing on the brain of an animal) (CNN). There are also
possibilities to further develop these organoids and create brain organoids
that have the ability to think. This could potentially help better understand
diseases with memory deficits such as amnesia.
This
discovery has the potential to be beneficial for all routes of science and
medicine. Scientists now have a new platform to learn more about diseases
including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia, amnesia, autism, brain cancer and
countless of more diseases (the possibilities truly seem infinite). The “mini
brains” are still a work in progress and there will continue to be some mystery
behind making the brains function. “Mini brains” have the potential to unlock
the mysteries of some of the most devastating diseases.
What is fascinating is definitely the prospect that (theoretically) we would be able to look at the tissue of an individual and attempt to map out his/her own unique make-up and what kind of pathway a degenerative disease may take by using this brain organoid as a model. From there on, perhaps applying different drugs or combinations of drugs to see what the individual's organoid responds best to can define the medication regiment for the patient. Of course, this is years away since there are simply limitations to what an embryonic brain can tell us about a specific individual undergoing a degenerative disorder and what the effects might be, but the concept is well within the realm of reality.
ReplyDeleteThis idea is quite remarkable. The fact that we can recreate the unique makeup of an individual is impressive. Using brain organoids to map out the progression of diseases will definitely prove to be useful down the road. We can probably use this information, in conjunction with information we know now to plan a response to future diseases. We have a lot of time until we can recommend a specific treatment for patients, and the limits to embryonic brain pose problems to us, but I'm sure we can overcome these because we've come this far already.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to see that we are still learning about the human brain. Such a great remarkable achievement in the area of neuroscience. It is also amazing how this research could be useful for searching human neurological disease.
ReplyDeleteI was reading an article from NBC news, that the mini brains were used to model microcephaly. A human genetic disorder in which brain size is dramatically reduced. It also allows scientist to study aspects of the developing brain that are difficult to model in animals.
I like the fact that growing mini brains In a lab could be use to test medications or for example common disorders like autism and schizophrenia.
I find the discovery very interesting and remarkable, it certainly is a major break through and potential step forward toward the discovery of many future drugs and cures for multiple diseases. Though remarkable, I can also see the potential for possibly a major debate on whether such creations will be considered ethical to many. In order to survey the effects of a drug we attempt to test them to exam the best results. So, the question can arise if experimenting on these tiny brains is not morally correct since they are considered to be a living organism.
ReplyDeleteI find the discovery very interesting and remarkable, it certainly is a major break through and potential step forward toward the discovery of many future drugs and cures for multiple diseases. Though remarkable, I can also see the potential for possibly a major debate on whether such creations will be considered ethical to many. In order to survey the effects of a drug we attempt to test them to exam the best results. So, the question can arise if experimenting on these tiny brains is not morally correct since they are considered to be a living organism.
ReplyDelete