The ‘Mini Brains’ solving medical mysteries and raising concerns

Bold Names

The Wall Street Journal

Technology

4.4 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 17 March 2023

⏱️ 24 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It may seem like science fiction, but over the past decade scientists have been using stem cells to grow so-called “mini brains.” Researchers prefer the term brain organoids, a collection of human cells in a petri dish that mimic the structure and cell types of our own brains. They’ve been used to study diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s, and evaluate potential treatments, but now the research is becoming more sophisticated, and that’s raising big concerns. Could they become conscious? Should we even be experimenting on our own cells? WSJ’s Alex Ossola explores the advantages, and potential issues, as scientists look to use brain organoids to test new medicines or even replace the chips in our computers. Further reading: Scientists Grow Human Cells in Rat Brains to Study Autism, Schizophrenia Engineered Mini Brain Models Show Patterns of Activity That Resemble Babies’ Startup Uses ‘Mini Brains’ and Software to Power Drug Research Thomas Hartung’s laboratory at Johns Hopkins University Paola Arlotta’s laboratory at Harvard University The Brainstorm Project Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This podcast has brought to you by Fidelity Investments.
0:03.7	Find yourself on solid ground at Fidelity.
0:06.2	We bring 75 years of experience and are hiring licensed financial planners near you.
0:11.3	Visit branches.fidelitycareers.com.
0:14.9	Fidelity is an equal opportunity employer.
0:20.1	I'm visiting a lab in Baltimore, Maryland, where researchers are asking,
0:24.0	can some cells in a dish stand in for a key part of ourselves?
0:28.4	But the scientist in charge is keeping my expectations in check.
0:31.8	All the labs in the world look the same.
0:34.8	Don't expect too much.
0:37.8	That's Thomas Hartung, a professor of evidence-based toxicology at Johns Hopkins University.
0:42.8	He's a self-described crazy professor, with a medical degree and a PhD from his native Germany.
0:47.8	He's been running this lab here in the U.S. for more than a decade.
0:51.8	So now something very unspectacular.
0:54.8	That's it.
0:57.8	The lab isn't full of bubbling beakers or robot arms.
1:00.3	It's surprisingly cramped.
1:02.3	It's got a workstation on either end and a bunch of machines that look like mini fridges lining the walls almost up to the ceiling.
1:08.3	The space to move around is about five feet wide.
1:11.3	Hartung stops in front of the mini fridge like machines.
1:14.3	When he opens the door, I'm expecting to get hit with this blast of cold air,
1:17.8	but instead it's humid and warm inside.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Wall Street Journal, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of The Wall Street Journal and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.