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.