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Lab-Grown Human Brain Organoids Set Seven-Year Longevity Record
Scientists grew tiny groups of human brain cells in a laboratory.
These groups are called brain organoids.
The organoids stayed alive and continued developing for seven years.
That is much longer than the previous record of 694 days.
The cells produced electrical signals and changed in ways similar to developing human brain cells.
Scientists used a chemical signal in DNA to measure their developmental age.
Older cells also remembered what stage of development they had reached.
This could help researchers study how brains mature and how some brain disorders develop.
The organoids were eventually destroyed, but the researchers believe future versions may last even longer.
Harvard University researchers kept lab-grown human brain organoids alive and maturing for seven years.
The organoids surpassed the previous longevity record of 694 days.
More than one million cells continued thriving and producing electrical signals over several years.
Researchers studied 34 organoids and used DNA methylation profiling to track developmental changes.
The findings could support research into brain development, ageing, autism and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Who
- Researchers at Harvard University, including Harvard Stem Cell Institute principal faculty member Arlotta.
- What
- They kept human brain organoids alive and maturing for seven years, setting a longevity record.
- Where
- The research was conducted at Harvard University.
- When
- The study was published in Nature last Wednesday; the organoids were examined at points including six months and five years.
- Why
- To observe later stages of human brain development and improve research into ageing, neurodevelopmental conditions and brain disorders.
Key facts
- Record duration
- Seven years of survival and maturation
- Previous record
- 694 days
- Experimental material
- Peppercorn-sized human brain organoids
- Cells maintained
- More than one million brain cells
- Organoids analyzed
- 34
- Tracking method
- DNA methylation profiling
- Study publication
- Nature
Quotes
Arlotta
Principal faculty member at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute
“We can unlock a whole spectrum of human brain biology that we didn't see before. We have shown it's possible - a proof of principle - but clearly we need to figure out how to use the newly gained knowledge to enable understanding of later stages of development without having to wait years for organoids to grow.”
NDTV
“The methylation clock told us that these organoids were basically doing things that the endogenous brain would do.”
NDTV
Sources
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