Slice of Life

Organoids are lab-grown models – they mimic living organs under the microscope, revealing details buried inside the real thing. Scientists are growing brain organoids like this one from cells donated by healthy human volunteers and patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. First, the cells are chemically 'reprogrammed' into induced pluripotent stem cells then coaxed to grow and develop into a mini brain. Here, a new approach grows the organoid as a slice, rather than a ball of cells – bathed from all sides in nurturing chemicals, these artificial brains survive for longer than before. Researchers follow different types of neurons and brain cells (highlighted here in different colours) as they switch on genes and build new proteins. In the diseased organoids, researchers find problems with DNA repair lead to DNA damage and a form of cell death called pyknosis which may give clues to treating disorders like ALS and frontotemporal dementia.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Image from work by Kornélia Szebényi and colleagues
• John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
• Image copyright held by the original authors
• Research published in Nature Neuroscience, October 2021