Lab-grown brain nearly complete; may be a “brain changer” for neurological diseases

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Researchers from Ohio State University have been able to grow a human brain in their laboratory. The Ohio State scientists announced their successful brain experiment this Tuesday at the 2015 Military Health System Research Symposium in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, reports Medical Express.

The researchers believe that an artificial brain will offer a better understanding of neurological diseases, like autism or Alzheimer's, which could result in better treatment and prevention methods.

The data behind creating a brain has yet to be released to the public or reviewed by their scientific peers. As a result, experts in the scientific field are skeptical about the research.

Despite the skepticism, however, the creators of the artificial brain remain hopeful for its future application in neurological disorders. In fact, the scientists have already grown brain organoid models for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and autism.

Currently, the Ohio State researchers are using the artificial brain for military research. They are investigating the effects of Gulf War Syndrome, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, states Daily Mail.

According to The Huffington Post, the lab-grown brain is similar to that of a 5-week-old fetal brain. It has 99 percent of the genes in a normal human brain, after 15 weeks of growing in a petri dish. While the brain is almost complete, it is not able to form thoughts.

Professor Rene Anand, lead researcher of the experiment, said that the lab-grown brain could reach full capacity if allowed to grow a bit more. "If we let it go to 16 or 20 weeks, that might complete it, filling in that 1 percent of missing genes. We don't know yet," said Anand.

Anand added that an artificial heart is also needed for the brain to develop even further. Apparently, the petri dish grown brain already has all the major parts of a normal brain, including the beginnings of an eye and a basic spinal cord.

In addition, it also already has a working system of axons and dendrites, which send signals from the brain to the rest of the body. The only system missing in the brain is the vascular system, also known as the circulatory system, which is responsible for blood flow.

To create the brain, the scientists used pluripotent cells, which are immature cells that transform into any type of tissue in the body, explains The Guardian. Anand and her colleagues coaxed the premature cells into forming a brain and central nervous system.