A201 - Lab-built Brains

The human brain is amazingly complex. It makes connections, sends signals, and processes information. It is the 1.4 kilograms of tissue that defines humans for what we are. To create an organ that is even similar to the human brain would be an incredible feat. Recently, I read an article about some scientists who created a smaller and simpler human brain in a lab.

To build the artificial brains, scientists started with a group of stem cells. If they’re put in the right conditions, the stem cells are capable of forming any type of tissue. The scientists cultured the stem cells cells until they grew into a small ball. Next, they put it into a gel that helps the cells reproduce and survive. Finally, the gel and tissue are transferred to a spinning bioreactor. The end result is an organoid (a smaller organ) that resembles and works like a human brain.

The brain organoid has many structures that are similar to the human brain. This includes the folded outer structure. The brain organoid also functions like a brain. For example, the nerve cells send long cables (axons) that connect with other nerves. This allows the nerves to send and receive signals from each other.

This new technology can be used in many ways. Organoids can be replaced for rats during tests. It can also be used to study mutations that only occur in humans like schizophrenia and epilepsy. The brains can help study psychiatric disorders and more! Soon the brains will be used to make major discoveries in biology.

With all the things these mini brains can do, should we be afraid of artificial brains? No. Lab brains cannot develop emotions or thoughts. Scientist Juergen A. Knoblich states, “An organoid is not “”humanoid”” in a jar and will not be one even in the far future.” He continues to write that these organoids cannot process information or model reality. Furthermore, they don’t have any “sensory inputs” like eyes, ears, noses, or touch. Even if we did connect a camera, the brain wouldn’t be able to understand the data. So for now, these organoids are simply some sensational brain cells in a dish.

What will scientists do next? The organoids although helpful, have some major flaws. First, the cells don’t last long. To solve this problem, scientists theorize that they can build blood vessels from 3D printers or stem cells. The second problem is that the cells grow randomly since they have no sense of bodily axes (up/down front/back left/right). The scientists believe that they can use a certain chemical that helps the real brain orient to create an axis for the organoid. Soon, these problems will be solved and the brain organoids will bring a future of remarkable discoveries.