How We're Reverse Engineering the Human Brain in the Lab | Sergiu P. Pasca | TED

Stem Cells

Sergiu Pasca shares the groundbreaking process of transforming skin cells into stem cells and eventually into brain cells. This technique, described as "cellular alchemy," involves reprogramming skin cells by introducing genetic factors, allowing them to revert to stem cells capable of becoming any cell type 1. These stem cells are then guided to form brain organoids, which can resemble specific regions of the nervous system, such as the cerebral cortex or spinal cord.

Isn't it remarkable to think that just a few months ago, these cells were skin cells in a patient, and now there are neural cells at the bottom of a dish that we can study at ease?

--- Sergiu Pasca

This transformation opens new avenues for understanding diseases, like how low oxygen affects premature babies' brains 1.

   

Brain Circuits

The creation of functioning brain circuits from transformed cells marks a significant leap in neuroscience. Pasca explains how brain organoids, when combined, form assembloids that mimic human brain circuits 2. These assembloids are crucial for studying the unique characteristics of the human brain, which are often elusive in animal models.

The promise of organoids and assembly is that they will slowly allow us to gain new insights into the hidden biology of the human brain.

--- Sergiu Pasca

By modeling complex circuits, such as the one controlling voluntary movement, researchers can observe neurons connecting across different organoids, offering insights into brain development and potential treatments for disorders 3.