bioethics

‘Alien-cortical’ mice: Can human brain cells grow inside animals?

Researchers at Stanford University implanted lab-grown human brain organoids into genetically modified mice lacking most of their cerebral cortex, and the human tissue grew, connected to blood supply and improved performance on maze tests. Published in Nature, the study argues such 'alien-cortical' mice could offer a new way to study brain disorders such as schizophrenia, cerebral palsy and dementia, while igniting debate over neurohybrids and the ethics of cross-species research.