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posted by takyon on Friday October 19 2018, @06:29PM   Printer-friendly
from the hybrot-starter dept.

Submitted via IRC for chromas

Scientists grow functioning human neural networks in 3D from stem cells

A team of Tufts University-led researchers has developed three-dimensional (3D) human tissue culture models for the central nervous system that mimic structural and functional features of the brain and demonstrate neural activity sustained over a period of many months. With the ability to populate a 3D matrix of silk protein and collagen with cells from patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other conditions, the tissue models allow for the exploration of cell interactions, disease progression and response to treatment. The development and characterization of the models are reported today in ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, a journal of the American Chemical Society.

The new 3D brain tissue models overcome a key challenge of previous models -the availability of human source neurons. This is due to the fact that neurological tissues are rarely removed from healthy patients and are usually only available post-mortem from diseased patients. The 3D tissue models are instead populated with human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that can be derived from many sources, including patient skin. The iPSCs are generated by turning back the clock on cell development to their embryonic-like precursors. They can then be dialed forward again to any cell type, including neurons.

[...] Compared to growing and culturing cells in two dimensions, the three-dimensional matrix yields a significantly more complete mix of cells found in neural tissue, with the appropriate morphology and expression of receptors and neurotransmitters, according to the paper.

Also at ZDNet and Motherboard.

Functional and Sustainable 3D Human Neural Network Models from Pluripotent Stem Cells (DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.8b00622) (DX)


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  • (Score: 2) by SubiculumHammer on Friday October 19 2018, @07:34PM (2 children)

    by SubiculumHammer (5191) on Friday October 19 2018, @07:34PM (#751106)

    The future of AI grown cell mixtures.

    • (Score: 2) by VLM on Friday October 19 2018, @08:47PM (1 child)

      by VLM (445) Subscriber Badge on Friday October 19 2018, @08:47PM (#751144)

      Focusing more tightly than just "Americans", think of our NPCs, now they could have actual brains. But then they'd be Trump voters not NPCs, so ...

      Also not to be a jerk and rain on the parade, but there's only one well known brain eating animal I can think of, and scientists finding a way to feed vast crops of brain eating zombies can not possibly end well when some idiot inevitably leaves the barn door open. Scientists can always design a better 3-d network of stem cell derived neural networks, but human nature is we'll evolve dumber idiots to leave the barn door open.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 20 2018, @02:33AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 20 2018, @02:33AM (#751249)

        So you are saying "ORANGE MAN BAD"?

        Wow, what a novel and original thought.

  • (Score: 2, Funny) by nobu_the_bard on Friday October 19 2018, @07:39PM (1 child)

    by nobu_the_bard (6373) on Friday October 19 2018, @07:39PM (#751109)

    Link to twitter account? I want to see what inanity they're thinking and blurting out already.

    • (Score: 2) by VLM on Friday October 19 2018, @08:53PM

      by VLM (445) Subscriber Badge on Friday October 19 2018, @08:53PM (#751148)

      Neurological .... Pluripotent stem Cells

      Note the capitalization, thats a NPC, just search twatter for "NPC" and you'll find plenty of quality content.

      I learned all about NPCs from this Chinese Cartoon image board I frequent. I'm sure you'd find it highly enlightening. It has the best people.

  • (Score: 2) by requerdanos on Friday October 19 2018, @07:40PM (4 children)

    by requerdanos (5997) Subscriber Badge on Friday October 19 2018, @07:40PM (#751110) Journal

    A team of Tufts University-led researchers has developed three-dimensional (3D) human tissue culture models for the central nervous system that mimic structural and functional features of the brain and demonstrate neural activity sustained over a period of many months.

    That's very, very impressive.

    With the ability to populate a 3D matrix of silk protein and collagen with cells from patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other conditions, the tissue models allow for the exploration of cell interactions, disease progression and response to treatment.

    I wouldn't mind also seeing a 3d protein-collagen matrix populated with cells cloned from the DNA in Einstein's preserved brain. That tissue model would, perhaps, allow something like Skynet. Hopefully it would also run BSD or some variant of Linux.

    • (Score: 2) by SubiculumHammer on Friday October 19 2018, @07:57PM (3 children)

      by SubiculumHammer (5191) on Friday October 19 2018, @07:57PM (#751120)

      Einstein's brain wasn't frozen, I believe there were put into formalin. Only frozen cells could be revived.

      • (Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 19 2018, @08:17PM (2 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 19 2018, @08:17PM (#751132)

        You don't need the cells. With the full Einstein genome sequenced and *digitized*, you could eventually produce the cells synthetically.

        The entire genome could be compressed down to megabytes and distributed to everyone who wants a copy. Then groups can try to synthesize a cell or cell culture later when the technology improves.

        That being said, we are probably overestimating the value of Einstein's genetic "nature". And if a 3D cell culture brain can be scaled up enough, it won't matter whose DNA you use. You might even get good results with a rat brain scaled to be larger than a human's (simple genetic changes can make it more human-like with greater glial density, etc.).

        - t

        • (Score: 3, Insightful) by acid andy on Friday October 19 2018, @09:55PM

          by acid andy (1683) on Friday October 19 2018, @09:55PM (#751169) Homepage Journal

          That being said, we are probably overestimating the value of Einstein's genetic "nature".

          I think you're right. The brain grows and develops according to how it is used. Doubtless other factors such as nutrition, blood flow / oxygenation and the balance of neurotransmitters will have an effect on the development too. Not to mention education and interests--an Einstein clone that hates doing math probably won't be too productive.

          --
          If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
        • (Score: 2) by deimtee on Sunday October 21 2018, @05:01AM

          by deimtee (3272) on Sunday October 21 2018, @05:01AM (#751567) Journal

          If you were going to use non-human cells I would go for either parrot or corvid. Both are remarkably smart for the size of their brains.

          --
          If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.
  • (Score: 2) by acid andy on Friday October 19 2018, @09:58PM (1 child)

    by acid andy (1683) on Friday October 19 2018, @09:58PM (#751171) Homepage Journal

    At what point do we say the bundle of human neurons is big enough to denounce this as unethical and cruel? Oh, wait; that sort of thing didn't stop medical research in the past. Carry on.

    --
    If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @06:01PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 22 2018, @06:01PM (#752064)

      Neurons aren't magic, it's the structure that matters.

  • (Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 20 2018, @12:08AM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 20 2018, @12:08AM (#751212)

    It would get them out if the diplomatic pickle they've landed themselves in.

    • (Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 20 2018, @12:13AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 20 2018, @12:13AM (#751215)

      Muslims killing Muslims... it's nothing we should interfere with and it saves the US Army some bullets.

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