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A miniature brain developed in a laboratory from human stem cells has developed its own mind – or at least enough awareness to send neural "tendrils" to connect to the spinal cord and muscle tissue of a mouse, then flex it .
"We like to think of them as mini-brains in motionMadeline Lancaster of the University of Cambridge, who led the experiment with the Molecular Biology Laboratory of the Medical Research Council, published the results in Nature: Neuroscience.
The mini-brain is their most sophisticated "organoid"Still, approaching the complexity of a fetal brain aged 12 to 16 weeks. The researchers claim that it is "too small and primitive to have anything that approaches thoughts, feelings or consciousness, "There is no precise way to measure consciousness, and the"organoid"A few million neurons – which means that it works with the same equipment in gray matter as the average cockroach.
After placing a tiny piece of spinal cord and a dorsal muscle of a mouse next to the germinating brain drop, the researchers observed (presumably marveled) the brain ejecting neuronal connections to intertwine with the spine, finally sending electrical signals. pulses and causing the mouse muscle to contract.
The size of the organoid was previously limited by its ability to access nutrients – oncedrop"Has become too big, the center is starving. This time, the researchers simply cut into tiny slices and put them in a nutrient-rich liquid, which allowed the interior to expand while the links between the slices continued to grow and become more complex. for a full year.
The researchers plan to use their mini-brain to study the development of the nervous system and brain disorders, that is to say unless the brain becomes aware of itself and begins to study them first.
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