Brain organoids and insights on human evolution. 2019

Alysson R Muotri
Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Human brain organoids, generated from pluripotent stem cells, have emerged as a promising technique for modeling early stages of human neurodevelopment in controlled laboratory conditions. Although the applications for disease modeling in a dish have become routine, the use of these brain organoids as evolutionary tools is only now getting momentum. Here, we will review the current state of the art on the use of brain organoids from different species and the molecular and cellular insights generated from these studies. Besides, we will discuss how this model might be beneficial for human health and the limitations and future perspectives of this technology.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009940 Organoids An organization of cells into an organ-like structure. Organoids can be generated in culture, e.g., self-organized three-dimensional tissue structures derived from STEM CELLS (see MICROPHYSIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS). They are also found in certain NEOPLASMS. Organoid
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D005075 Biological Evolution The process of cumulative change over successive generations through which organisms acquire their distinguishing morphological and physiological characteristics. Evolution, Biological
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D057026 Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Cells from adult organisms that have been reprogrammed into a pluripotential state similar to that of EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell,IPS Cell,IPS Cells,Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell,Fibroblast-Derived IPS Cells,Fibroblast-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells,Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells,hiPSC,Cell, Fibroblast-Derived IPS,Cell, IPS,Cells, Fibroblast-Derived IPS,Cells, IPS,Fibroblast Derived IPS Cells,Fibroblast Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells,Fibroblast-Derived IPS Cell,IPS Cell, Fibroblast-Derived,IPS Cells, Fibroblast-Derived

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