… Abnormal (grown in test tube) human organoid cells became a little bit more normal when implanted into a more hospitable environment — mice’s brains. After growing for several weeks in a more normal environment with a blood supply, the organoid cells seemed less stressed. And the cells no longer seemed as confused about their identities.
The researchers don’t know exactly what causes the abnormalities in the organoid cells. It might have to do with the nourishing liquid that surrounds the blobs, or even differences in the mechanical forces that press against them. …
Interesting stuff here.
Seems to me another example of that fundamental lesson that we cannot understand an organism without also understanding it’s environment.
It may have something to do with the lack of neurological stimuli. Everything that happens in the brain is a chemical process, after all. With no input (the 5 senses) they may simply remain in a “base state”, the state they are in before stimuli causes them to “specialize” (become part of a specific center of the brain).
If you throw a rat (that has had part of its own brain ablated, so that the rat has become almost catatonic) into a tub of water, it will suddenly become quite frantically active, trying no to drown). So maybe the “organoids” are a bit like that, in that they exhibit the stress reactions when they are in an unsuitable environment.
This video showed up in the sidebar and turned out pretty informative. A little background for the above.
The Current Status of Human Brain Organoids Research with Alysson Muotri
University of California Television (UCTV)
The study of brain organoids is leading to a better understanding of human development and potential therapies for neurological disorders. Yet when people hear the phrase “brain in a dish” it instantly brings to mind the stuff of science fiction - labs full of sentient brains thinking and plotting. Alysson Muotri explains why these organoids should not called “brains in a dish” and how they are being used to explain human processes previously inaccessible to study. While underscoring scientific value of these organoids, he also raises the question of what ethical questions demand an answer as the technology improves. Recorded on 10/04/2019. [11/2019] [Show ID: 35245] More from: Stem Cell Ethics: Human Brain Organoids
