News Service from Weird House

JPN: Japanese researchers make brain tissues from stem cells

Japanese researchers say they've created functioning human brain tissuesfrom stem cells in a world first .. that raises new hopes for the treatment of disease.

Researchers at the government-backed research institute Riken say they tookstem cells from human embryos .. which were used to form tissues of the cerebral cortex .. the supreme control tower of the brain.

The tissues self-organised into four distinct zones .. very similar to the structure seen in human foetuses .. and conducted neuro-activity and transmitted electrical signals.

Research on stem cells is seen as having the potential to save lives .. by helping to find cures for diseases such as cancer and diabetes or to replace damaged cells .. tissues and organs.

AAP RTV apmwzrt =0A