Scientists grow a human brain

[izzix]

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UK Scientists Grow A Living Human 'Brain'

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Scientists in Birmingham have grown a living human 'brain'. Skip related content
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UK Scientists Grow A Living Human 'Brain'

The team at Aston University created tiny bundles of cells which act like a mini nervous system.

They believe it could help find a cure for degenerative conditions like Alzheimer's, motor neurone or Parkinson's disease.

Professor Michael Coleman is leading the research.

He explained: "We are aiming to be able to study the human brain at the most basic level, using an actual living human cellular system.

"Cells have to be alive and operating efficiently to enable us to really understand how the brain works."

The experiment involves altering cells from a cancer tumour and making them behave like brain cells.

Although far from finished, scientists hope the fake brain cells will give them a greater understanding of how real brains work.

This, in turn, could significantly further research into conditions which affect the brain.

Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "It is still very early days, but in the future this interesting research could lead to a useful tool for investigating dementia."

The technique could also provide an alternative to animal testing and is being supported and funded by the Humane Research Trust.

Over the next ten years a million people will develop dementia, but campaigners say research into the disease is hugely under-funded.

Current treatments cause unpleasant side-effects and do not halt the progression of conditions.

Professor Coleman believes his findings could change this.

He said: "We hope our technique will provide scientists with a new and highly relevant human experimental model to help us understand the brain better and develop new drugs and treatments to tackle neurodegenerative disease."

[wazza]

They are now trying to transplant this living brain into the DNA of a Scourser

[farang]

They are now trying to transplant this living brain into the DNA of a Scourser

They are now trying to transplant this living brain into the DNA of a moderator LOL

sorry, i had to do it LOL

opps :-"

JOKE !!!

[westerby]

They are now trying to transplant this living brain into the DNA of a moderator LOL
sorry, i had to do it LOL
JOKE !!!

That's naughty...

[jackspratt]

There's hope for you yet, izzie

[saint]

They are now trying to transplant this living brain into the DNA of a Scourser

They are now trying to transplant this living brain into the DNA of a moderator LOL

sorry, i had to do it LOL

opps :-"

JOKE !!!

i think thats very unfair farang . why only one , much fairer to share it amongst them all . whoops , looks like another lock down !!!! and deleted post .

[BobHelm]

I believe I now see your problem Saint.
Whilst Farang's comment shows a spark of original thought & is funny your remark shows little thought and (to me) is extremely offensive.
I really believe that your comments might be more welcome elsewhere (maybe) as they are certainly not welcome here.

[saint]

bob , you are absolutely right , my comment was out of order . so i publically apolgise to your good self and all other mods . i will endeavor in future to keep my frustrations under control . once again i am sorry for any upset ive caused yourself and any other moderators .

[BobHelm]

saint... apology accepted....

[beer monkey]

Ok getting back to the Brain making thing.....it baffles me what scientists do all day(i am not knocking them..before anyone says it) , things like this must take months if not years to develop,is their working day purely consist of looking through a microscope and petre dishes full off gel, the odd bunsen burner on the go...pyrex tubes all around,, i mean how many differant techniques/tests can they possibly do...mind boggling ..i guess i would never make a scientist like these in qeustion as it baffles me,10's of years are spent curing ailments...but what is the working day consisting off... Funded..? must cost millions, me fink too mutt..

I would enjoy being a Soco/csi though.

Thats my thoughts shared for the day...i'm off.

[douglas]

Hi,
Program on TV the other day in LOS had this in it. They have not grown a human brain, as we know, but have made brain cells. These cells when properly programed, like a computer, were able to fly a plane. The problem was if anything happened that they were not programed for IT could not react like a living person. Would you fly with a airline that had this, as stated on their program, i would not. They have still not perfected brain cells that can think for themselves. I do not trust programmer's to do this because as most of them do not know how to fly a plane and if any troubles happen, they cannot build in every known situation that might occur as proved by some accidents that have been investigated over the past 20 years, and life's have been saved by the skills of the pilots. Quite a few cases have been recorded where the accident was brought on because of false instrument readings or computer error.
Cheers Doug.
I'll get off my soap box now. JMT.

[Irish Alan]

Ok getting back to the Brain making thing.....it baffles me what scientists do all day(i am not knocking them..before anyone says it) , things like this must take months if not years to develop,is their working day purely consist of looking through a microscope and petre dishes full off gel, the odd bunsen burner on the go...pyrex tubes all around,, i mean how many differant techniques/tests can they possibly do...mind boggling ..i guess i would never make a scientist like these in qeustion as it baffles me,10's of years are spent curing ailments...but what is the working day consisting off... Funded..? must cost millions, me fink too mutt..

I would enjoy being a Soco/csi though.

Thats my thoughts shared for the day...i'm off.

I wonder what their social life is like. I suppose they just pull a fellow boffin type. Can't see them down the Dog and Duck chatting to a hairdresser.

Prof: "So Shazza what do you do?"
Shazza: "I'm a hairderesser... What do you do?"
Prof: "I'm a scientist and I'm currently trying to grow a human brain in a glass jar."
Shazza: "Oooooo look at the time!"

[rufus]

Looks like there's hope for Thai and Lao car and bike drivers yet.
Ron - based on the frustreation of trying to avoid the "third lane" coming his way on the 2 lane road durin last night's storm.

[aznyron]

instead trying to grow brains why don't they try and repair the ones they have they can start of with GWB his brain needs a lot of help since he fried it on drugs & alcohol in his college days

[jackspratt]

instead trying to grow brains why don't they try and repair the ones they have they can start of with GWB his brain needs a lot of help since he fried it on drugs & alcohol in his college days

Ron that Herculean task would require the entire effort of all the world's scientists, and about 100 more years, to even come close to the solution.

And of course, as all members on UM agree, the world does not have 100 years, due to the impending disasters associated with climate change