Oldest human brain cells grown in lab 'recorded passage of time'
Harvard researchers successfully grew human brain organoids for seven years, the longest duration to date, allowing them to observe cellular maturation over time. These organoids provide a unique biological model for studying the development of neurological disorders like autism and schizophrenia.
Why it matters
Extending the lifespan of brain organoids allows scientists to study long-term developmental processes that were previously inaccessible in lab settings.
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Add as preferred source Close-up images of different human brain organoids that Harvard researchers grew in a lab for a record seven years. Peppercorn-sized clumps of human brain cells grown in a lab for a record seven years aged similarly to those inside our heads, suggesting they "recorded the passage of time," scientists said Wednesday.
These tiny clumps, called organoids, are grown from stem cells by scientists around the world in the hope of uncovering the mysteries of our brains—and to test new medicines without having to use animals such as mice.
Normally, these organoids live for a few months, meaning they can offer only a window into the earliest stages of human brains, which take nearly 20 years to fully develop.
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