Human brain is two separate organs, research finds
- On Friday, Stanford-led researchers published findings in Nature Neuroscience revealing the human brain develops from two distinct neural systems rather than a single progenitor cell, challenging decades of scientific consensus.
- Genetic analysis shows progenitor cells expressing the gene Otx2 form the forebrain and midbrain, while cells expressing Gbx2 follow a separate developmental path to create the hindbrain.
- This two-part blueprint extends back over 500 million years, appearing in diverse species including zebrafish and acorn worms, which share a distant common ancestor with humans.
- Scientists successfully grew hindbrain motor neurons in a lab for the first time, providing a new model to study spinal muscular atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis .
- Developmental biologist Rayyan Jokhai noted the research could accelerate investigations into brainstem conditions, ultimately aiding development of regenerative therapies for patients with these genetic disorders.
74 Articles
74 Articles
Researchers at Stanford University say that the human brain should be viewed not as one, but as two separate organs. The discovery could explain why scientists struggled to grow certain types of brain cells in laboratories. This line of thinking also opens up new possibilities for diseases affecting the brainstem, such as spinal muscular atrophy or ALS.
The human brain is not a single organ, but rather two separate systems that evolved independently before fusing together, according to new research.
Not one, but two? Stanford University scientists find the brain is two separate organs
Groundbreaking research has uncovered that the human brain originates from two unique groups of embryonic cells, each taking a separate developmental route. This revelation challenges the traditional notion of a centralized brain control structure. The insights gained could significantly enhance efforts to cultivate targeted brain cells and model various brain disorders, opening new avenues for research and treatment innovations.
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