Researchers Develop Part-Human, Part-Mouse Brains to Study Neurological Diseases
Recent advancements in neuroscience have led to the creation of part-human, part-mouse brains, a significant development in understanding human brain diseases. Researchers at Stanford University have genetically engineered mice to lack their own cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for complex functions like decision-making and memory. Subsequently, human brain cells, specifically brain organoids, were implanted into these mice to replace the missing cortex. This hybrid brain model aims to provide a more natural and integrated context for studying psychiatric and neurodevelopmental diseases that affect humans, which are often difficult to research using traditional organoid models alone. The human cells successfully integrated, forming major types of neurons found in the cortex and establishing long-distance connections, including to the spinal cord, and engaging in synchronized activity spikes.
