Researchers make Human Brain Cells from Stem Cells

[Solauren]

Can we say WOW?

TOKYO (AFP) – Japanese researchers said Thursday they had created functioning human brain tissues from stem cells, a world first that has raised new hopes for the treatment of disease.

Stem cells taken from human embryos have been used to form tissues of the cerebral cortex, the supreme control tower of the brain, according to researchers at the government-backed research institute Riken.

The tissues self-organised into four distinct zones very similar to the structure seen in human foetuses, and conducted neuro-activity such as transmitting electrical signals, the institute said.

Research on stem cells is seen as having the potential to save lives by helping to find cures for diseases such as cancer and diabetes or to replace damaged cells, tissues and organs.

The team's previous studies showed stem cells differentiated into distinct cells but until now they had never organised into functioning tissues.

"In regenerative therapy, only a limited number of diseases can be cured with simple cell transplants. Transplanting tissues could raise hopes for greater functional recovery," the institute said in a statement.

Wow. Imagine that.

[TheMuffinKing]

This sounds like a great treatment for Alzheimer's, head trauma, and ailments mentioned in the article. I wonder if this can combined with some sort of life extension treatment to keep the brain sound beyond normal lifespan.

[Shinova]

LOL, a brain in a tank immortal life sort of scenario?

Now if only they can figure out how to stop telomeres from disappearing.

[Eulogy]

And to think that the inbred evil fundies wanted to stop this research. Suck Japan's asshole, Christofascists!

Thanks to your nonthinking, rabid knee-jerk panics, Japan is the first to develop this instead of the US. Maybe when this is perfected, your brains will actually function and you'll regret ever stopping stem cell research.

It would be extra ironic and funny if this cured fundamentalism, wouldn't it?

[WacoKid]

If these were completely functional, they might also theoretically be used in treatment of demyelination disorders like Multiple Sclerosis. That is, if they can get functioning oligodendrocytes and successfully transplant them into people who already have the disease. That's going to be my field of study, so this is very exciting!

Neuroscience is going to change so much in the next 10 years...

[PeZook]

Can this also be a hope for the thousands of people paralyzed yearly in various accidents?

I sure hope so.

[SirNitram]

Ahem.

SCIENCE, BITCHES!

That is all.

[Singular Intellect]

Ahem.

SCIENCE, BITCHES!

That is all.

Yeah, but at the expense of people's souls!! [/sarcasm]

[Patrick Degan]

And to think that the inbred evil fundies wanted to stop this research. Suck Japan's asshole, Christofascists!

Thanks to your nonthinking, rabid knee-jerk panics, Japan is the first to develop this instead of the US. Maybe when this is perfected, your brains will actually function and you'll regret ever stopping stem cell research.

Fortunately, now that we've got President Obama coming in, America will soon catch up and start achieving in this field on her own.

[Molyneux]

I'm just wondering - I didn't see any mention in the article of whether these researchers were working with embryonic or adult stem cells. Anyone have any idea?

I'm hoping it was "adult", mostly because I'd think that would make it easier to get from this to treatments for nerve-related diseases (making new nerves from someone's own stem cells).

[KrauserKrauser]

I'm just wondering - I didn't see any mention in the article of whether these researchers were working with embryonic or adult stem cells. Anyone have any idea?

I'm hoping it was "adult", mostly because I'd think that would make it easier to get from this to treatments for nerve-related diseases (making new nerves from someone's own stem cells).

Nope, read the article again, second paragraph.

Stem cells of the embryonic variety.

Makes the most sense honestly, after reading a bit of "Your Inner Fish" and seeing the developmental similarities between the various animal embryos and us, these would be the most versatile cells available.

[KrauserKrauser]

As a quick thought that I've never heard anything about. Given the similarities between say Pigs and Humans, could Pig embryos be used for stem cell research or are the differences too drastic for this purpose?