LAB GROWN BRAIN DISRUPTS SCIENCE AS WE KNOW IT
Welcome to science as we know it. Science across all fields seems to make news every day of our lives for one reason or another, some good, other times bad. But in recent science news, researchers from Ohio State University have done what seems to be impossible: they’ve grown a brain.
One has to wonder at not only the oddity of this, but just how this feat was even possible. Some might even question whether or not a live specimen was part of it, but no, it is not.
Other than all of those qualms and misgivings, this brain was developed in a lab. On the 18th of August, Ohio State University released a press release regarding their ready-for-presentation lab grown brain.
IS THIS A FETAL BRAIN IN THIS PETRI DISH?
According to the release, so far, this lab-grown brain was as mentally developed as a five-week-old fetus. Thus, it is quite small in size, only about the size of a pencil eraser! Professor of biological chemistry at Ohio State University, Rene Anand, said that this brain is the most completely developed brain model to date. This lab grown brain consists of adult human skin cells and is developing along the same pattern of development that a fetal brain would.
HOW A LAB GROWN BRAIN CAN BETTER THE WORLD
With such a brain model made to mimic a particular life phase, experimental drug testing can be done on the lab grown brain models instead of using rats. Such testing could include tests for neurological disorders, as well as other health concerns involving the brain. Anand commented that this new way of testing drugs on a pseudo brain is profound as it is more relevant and shows what the reaction could be on humans.
SHARING A BRAIN WITH THE WORLD
The same day the press release was made available to the public for consumption, Anand also shared the findings and news of the lab grown brain with the people at the 2015 Military Health System Research Symposium in Fort Lauderdale. More information about the event or symposium can be found on their site.
However, despite the accomplishment of the lab grown brain model, the researchers are hoping to accomplish more things with the brain. The hope with this lab grown brain is to eventually be available for other research studies such as stroke therapy studies among other things.
