Success in Generating Brain Tissue From Stem Cells

Posted by Esmart - 18/11/08 at 03:11 am

Japanese researchers at the Riken Institute have created functioning human brain tissues from stem cells. In a world first, stem cells taken from human embryos were used to form tissues of the cerebral cortex, the supreme control center of the brain.

A significant difference on previous studies was the behaviour of the tissues to self-organise into four distinct zones and conducting neuro-activity such as transmitting electrical signals. In previous studies, stem cells differentiated into distinct cells but had never organised into functioning tissues.

This opens new hopes for cures for diseases such as cancer and diabetes or to replace damaged cells, tissues and organs.

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