MINI BRAINS - SCI &
TECH
News: Mini-brains and lab-on-a-chip
wearables: Jumar Bioincubator officially opens within Melbourne Biomedical
Precinct
What's in the news?
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Mini brains grown in laboratory settings offer a
potential avenue for elucidating the mechanisms underlying the increased risk of dementia associated with
concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
Lab-Grown Minibrains:
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Lab-grown minibrains, scientifically termed brain organoids, serve as miniature,
simplified models of full-size human brains.
Minibrains Formation:
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Scientists typically generate brain organoids from stem cells, which are immature
cells capable of differentiating into various cell types.
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Stem cells utilized for organoid production can
originate from adult human cells or,
less commonly, human embryonic tissue.
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Adult cells are subjected to chemical exposure to induce reversion into a stem cell-like state,
known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), capable of differentiating into
any tissue type.
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These iPSCs are then embedded in a protein-rich
matrix or grown atop a physical, 3D scaffold to facilitate their growth and
formation into a three-dimensional structure resembling a brain.
Applications:
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Minibrains have potential applications in basic research, aiding in understanding
brain development and function.
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They also hold promise in drug development, serving as models for testing the efficacy and
safety of pharmaceutical compounds.
● Furthermore, minibrains may find utility in computer science, particularly in the development of neural networks and artificial intelligence systems.