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Mini-human brains grown in the lab could hold the key to halting Alzheimer's disease
dailymail.co.uk ^

Posted on 08/07/2017 10:02:44 AM PDT by BenLurkin

The micro-brains are created by genetically altering skin cells, which causes them to revert to stem cells that are capable of becoming any type of cell.

They are then triggered into growing into neurons.

The structures currently only grow to around 2mm (0.08 inches), but they could help scientists to see how dementia takes hold of brain cells and spreads.

The work may eventually allow the team to grow replacement brain parts for transplanting into Alzheimer's patients.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Professor Edik Rafalov of the university said: 'This is kind of science fiction.

'We're trying to help neurons to connect and to grow together so that, ultimately, we can replace parts of the brain that have been damaged by, for example, dementia.

'In simple terms, with dementia, part of the brain is not working properly. If you can replace this part, then you can return people to a normal life.

'It's no exaggeration to say the project could improve and prolong hundreds of thousands of lives.'

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. Worldwide, nearly 44 million people have Alzheimer's or a related dementia.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Weird Stuff
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1 posted on 08/07/2017 10:02:44 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

Brains grown in the lab by manipulating cells. What could go wrong?


2 posted on 08/07/2017 10:05:27 AM PDT by grania (Deplorable and Proud of It!)
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To: BenLurkin

Uhhuh!
Could there possibly be any unmentioned side-effects, etc.???
Can we keep our.......!!!
;)
Semper WatchYerXXX!
***********


3 posted on 08/07/2017 10:06:51 AM PDT by gunnyg ("A Constitution changed from Freedom, can never be restored; Liberty, once lost, is lost forever...)
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To: BenLurkin

What could possibly go wrong?

4 posted on 08/07/2017 10:07:45 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: BenLurkin
How many mini-brains to equal a large brain?

Wait, I misread it. It's mini-human brains. What? They grew brains from midgets? Will a mimi-human brain fit in a regular human skull? Do they think the same?

Cue Paul Williams "Short People" Don't want no short people brains round here.

5 posted on 08/07/2017 10:09:11 AM PDT by DannyTN
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To: BenLurkin

Finally a use for liberal’s brains. They are already so tiny...


6 posted on 08/07/2017 10:10:07 AM PDT by Dandy (Drain the swamp baby!!!)
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To: BenLurkin

I was thinking of a human brain the size of a mouse brain or something like that. But it looks like the word, “brain” should have been put in quotes. They seem to be just creating a partial model of a brain that is made of real human brain cells to see how the “model brain structure” responds to stuff.

That said, as this kind of thing continues to improve, I have little doubt that the day is coming where all diseases will be cured and immortality will be unlocked. Probably within just a couple of decades. Which is just one reason I think the Lord is not gonna wait all that much longer. Just one...


7 posted on 08/07/2017 10:12:02 AM PDT by robroys woman
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To: BenLurkin

This is incredibly disturbing.

Making mini-brains with the cerebral cortex and active neural connections? Couldn’t those brains have human consciousness?

I wouldn’t go near such research for any reason. I think there are other ways to approach Alzheimer disease research, that do not carry the ethical baggage inherent in creating little human consciousnesses in petri dishes.


8 posted on 08/07/2017 10:12:09 AM PDT by exDemMom (Current visual of the hole the US continues to dig itself into: http://www.usdebtclock.org/)
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To: gunnyg

Don’t get me wrong...I TRVST gubmint,media, corpration$edu, etc...just that...well..uh....
never mind..............


9 posted on 08/07/2017 10:12:48 AM PDT by gunnyg ("A Constitution changed from Freedom, can never be restored; Liberty, once lost, is lost forever...)
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To: dfwgator

Squirt some of these brains into your ear and next thing you know you are an Einstein.


10 posted on 08/07/2017 10:13:33 AM PDT by minnesota_bound
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To: BenLurkin

I’m thinking that this could hold more promise for spinal cord injuries. Reconnecting neurons is what’s needed to unite signals from the brain to the spinal cord below the break.


11 posted on 08/07/2017 10:21:06 AM PDT by PrairieLady2 (The)
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To: grania

Well, I for one, welcome our new miniature lab grown brain overlords!


12 posted on 08/07/2017 10:21:53 AM PDT by Jotmo (Whoever said, "The pen is mightier than the sword." has clearly never been stabbed to death.)
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To: BenLurkin

Mini or micro? make up your stupid mind!
They are not brains. They are neurons. Even if you throw a trillion neurons into a bucket, you still won’t have a brain!
They are not even brain cells!
This is far from holding the key to halting Alzheimer’s!
I hate stupid hype.


13 posted on 08/07/2017 10:23:20 AM PDT by I want the USA back (Insanity, even when disguised by a nice-sounding name, is still insanity.)
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To: grania

Agree.

Dr Hugh Fudenberg, a well-known researcher, found that people who received 5 consecutive annual flu shots during the years 1970-1980, had a ~800% increase in Alzheimer’s. I am not sure of the mechanism, and whether it involves mercury, aluminum, polysorbate-80, and perhaps other dietary/environmental insults, or a combo, but that is a stunning finding.

So of course, instead of trying to find out why it is that so many children and elderly have cognitive dysfunction now, as compared with say 50 years ago, we need to grow them a new brain?? Typical conventional medical thinking.


14 posted on 08/07/2017 10:41:26 AM PDT by SecAmndmt (Arm yourselves!)
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To: DannyTN

That was Randy Newman..............


15 posted on 08/07/2017 10:43:59 AM PDT by Red Badger (Road Rage lasts 5 minutes. Road Rash lasts 5 months!.....................)
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To: Red Badger

That was Randy Newman. What was I thinking?


16 posted on 08/07/2017 11:00:16 AM PDT by DannyTN
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To: BenLurkin

To late for my mother and father. But good news for future alzheimer patients.


17 posted on 08/07/2017 11:02:17 AM PDT by plain talk
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To: Jotmo

18 posted on 08/07/2017 11:02:28 AM PDT by DannyTN
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To: BenLurkin

What lab...The Demoncrat party?


19 posted on 08/07/2017 11:04:07 AM PDT by RedMDer (Support Free Republic and Keep FReedom ALIVE!)
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To: DannyTN

Paul Williams wrote love songs.............


20 posted on 08/07/2017 11:16:29 AM PDT by Red Badger (Road Rage lasts 5 minutes. Road Rash lasts 5 months!.....................)
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