Репост из: Science in telegram
In a groundbreaking study, scientists have engineered mice with an enlarged cerebral cortex, resulting in more active and sociable behavior compared to typical rodents. By introducing Yamanaka factors early in development, these mice experienced brain growth with a greater number of neurons and glial cells. Remarkably, the same treatment suppressed degeneration in adult mice models of Alzheimer’s disease, likely by boosting cell proliferation. Read more here.
Such cell technologies may soon enable us to manipulate organ size or cellular composition—transforming one cell type into another. Recently, human blood cells were reprogrammed into corneal cells to restore vision in people with poor eyesight, applied in a thin layer over the eye (source). Other researchers are converting cancer cells into immune cells within tumors, effectively “dissolving” the tumor from the inside (source). In another bold experiment, mature cells were reverted to embryonic states, hinting at the potential for limb regeneration akin to that seen in axolotls (source).
While these are still early experiments, they’re growing rapidly in number and in significance. The potential of managing cell fate in vivo could revolutionize medicine, enabling us to heal, replace, rejuvenate, or even redesign tissues, organs, and organisms. The impact of this technology could be profound.
A fresh perspective sees the cell not as a simple ‘chemical factory’ but as a programmable agent, capable of assuming a vast array of identities. A new study even suggests that memory and learning aren’t exclusive to neurons; other cells exhibit a form of “cognition,” distributing a sort of agency across tissues (source).
Finally, a thought-provoking Cell review suggests that brain organoids might soon enable the human brain’s development to take on previously unknown pathways:
“Pushing evolution further may reveal new mechanisms, even leading to engineered cell types capable of tasks beyond the current abilities of the human brain.” (source).
#BiotechRevolution #CellEngineering #FutureOfScience
Such cell technologies may soon enable us to manipulate organ size or cellular composition—transforming one cell type into another. Recently, human blood cells were reprogrammed into corneal cells to restore vision in people with poor eyesight, applied in a thin layer over the eye (source). Other researchers are converting cancer cells into immune cells within tumors, effectively “dissolving” the tumor from the inside (source). In another bold experiment, mature cells were reverted to embryonic states, hinting at the potential for limb regeneration akin to that seen in axolotls (source).
While these are still early experiments, they’re growing rapidly in number and in significance. The potential of managing cell fate in vivo could revolutionize medicine, enabling us to heal, replace, rejuvenate, or even redesign tissues, organs, and organisms. The impact of this technology could be profound.
A fresh perspective sees the cell not as a simple ‘chemical factory’ but as a programmable agent, capable of assuming a vast array of identities. A new study even suggests that memory and learning aren’t exclusive to neurons; other cells exhibit a form of “cognition,” distributing a sort of agency across tissues (source).
Finally, a thought-provoking Cell review suggests that brain organoids might soon enable the human brain’s development to take on previously unknown pathways:
“Pushing evolution further may reveal new mechanisms, even leading to engineered cell types capable of tasks beyond the current abilities of the human brain.” (source).
#BiotechRevolution #CellEngineering #FutureOfScience