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The Guardian is reporting that the first (almost) fully formed human brain has been grown in a lab. Note, no paper or data has yet been published, but...
An almost fully-formed human brain has been grown in a lab for the first time, claim scientists from Ohio State University. The team behind the feat hope the brain could transform our understanding of neurological disease.
Though not conscious the miniature brain, which resembles that of a five-week-old foetus, could potentially be useful for scientists who want to study the progression of developmental diseases. It could also be used to test drugs for conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, since the regions they affect are in place during an early stage of brain development.
Is it thinking?
The ethical concerns were non-existent, said Rene Anand of Ohio State University. "We don't have any sensory stimuli entering the brain. This brain is not thinking in any way."
Personally I'd like to see it hooked up to an fMRI just to check.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 20 2015, @02:26PM
Hmm, so who creates a baby then? Clearly not scientists; they don't get any. Are you suggesting the dumb people that the scientists brains will surely inhabit in the future? I imagine they'll be selective and only allow for attractive dumb bodies to receive their brilliant minds.
It seems that is easier to create a dumb brain the old fashioned way, even if the results are just as wet and wrinkly. The newly created brain is likely to have something going on in it, if they claim it to be based on human genetic code. It'd be following its program; whatever processes have to run before it demands a lawyer will be running.