Researchers successfully transplanted lab-grown human brain organoids into newborn mice engineered without key regions responsible for learning and memory. Within three months, the human tissue expanded fivefold, hooked into the rodents' circulatory systems, and even generated rare von Economo neurons. Mice with the integrated human neurons performed better on maze navigation tests than their unmodified peers while retaining normal physical behaviors. Published in Nature, the breakthrough promises better models for conditions like dementia and schizophrenia despite ongoing questions regarding ethical oversight.
Key points
Rodents carrying the transplanted human brain tissue showed enhanced cognitive performanc…: Rodents carrying the transplanted human brain tissue showed enhanced cognitive performance in standard maze navigation tests.
The cross-species model provides researchers with unprecedented living systems to study h…: The cross-species model provides researchers with unprecedented living systems to study human-specific conditions like schizophrenia and cerebral palsy.
Senior author Sergiu Pasca emphasized that while the mice cannot think like humans, neuro…: Senior author Sergiu Pasca emphasized that while the mice cannot think like humans, neurohybrids necessitate formal ethical regulations.
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Modified mice with human brain cells ignite debates over neurohybrids and the future of cross-species medical research.
In a laboratory in California, in the United States, mice are scurrying around their cages, as mice do. But inside their brains are millions of working human neurons.
Researchers at Stanford University have implanted lab-grown human cells into mice genetically engineered to lack parts of their brains, including the cerebral cortex, the outer region that plays a major role in perception, movement, decision-making and attention.
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