Human brain has a split origin, new research suggests
Researchers found separate progenitor lineages for the forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain, and used the discovery to grow human hindbrain motor neurons.
- Stanford Medicine researchers discovered the human brain is actually two separate organs, disproving the long-held theory that it developed from a single master cell.
- The forebrain and hindbrain possess distinct cellular origins, each locked onto separate developmental paths that never cross during embryonic formation.
- While the hindbrain regulates automatic functions like breathing and heart rate, the forebrain supports complex traits including language and abstract reasoning, said Kyle Loh, associate professor of developmental biology at Stanford.
- This discovery allows scientists to better model brain development in a petri dish, potentially accelerating research into fatal neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and SMA.
- Evolutionary analysis indicates the two regions share a distant common ancestor dating back at least 500 million years, fundamentally reshaping understanding of human brain biology.
167 Articles
167 Articles
For decades, many scientists believed that all brain tissue was formed by a single type of progenitor cell. However, recent experiments challenge this model, providing evidence that not one but two different types of progenitor cells are needed to form this complex organ, reports Nature.
The brain is built from two separate sources, not one, new research suggests
New research suggests the brain develops from two separate groups of early cells, one forming the forebrain and midbrain and the other the hindbrain, challenging a model of brain development that dates back to 1952.
The brain was originally composed of two distinct organs that evolved independently over millions of years, think scientists.
Stanford Researchers Discover That the Human Brain May Be Two Separate Organs Fused Together
A split in early brain development helped researchers grow human hindbrain neurons that could shed light on SMA and ALS. The human hindbrain, the region at the back of the brain that helps control breathing and swallowing, has been difficult to study in the laboratory. For decades, scientists have struggled to grow its neurons, leaving [...]
Stanford researchers say the brain is actually two organs pretending to be one
Scientists have tried studying and scanning every single part of the human brain, but it turns out that everything they thought they knew was (mostly) wrong. A new study by researchers at Stanford School of Medicine explains that the brain is comprised of two distinct organs that have evolved to...Read Entire Article
Researchers have discovered that the brain consists of two ancient nervous systems, which opens up opportunities for the treatment of serious diseases.
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