Human Brain Cells Transplanted Into Baby Rats’ Brains Grow and Form Connections

October 12, 2022

In a study published in the journal Nature today, lab-grown clumps of human brain cells were transplanted into the brains of newborn rats. They grew and integrated with the rodents’ own neural circuits, eventually making up around one-sixth of their brains and helping guide their behavior.

These animals could be used to learn more about human neuropsychiatric disorders, say the researchers behind the work. But the development also raises ethical questions, particularly surrounding what it means to “humanize” animals.

Read the original article in MIT Technology Review.

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Human Brain Cells Transplanted Into Baby Rats’ Brains Grow and Form Connections

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The Pandemic Doesn’t Mean We Have to Choose Between Physical and Mental Health

Even Mild Brain Injuries Raise the Risk of Dementia