Latest

stem cells

·September 7, 2017·4 min read

Human Skin Cells Transformed Into Motor Neurons

WUSTL researchers have converted skin cells into motor neurons without going through the stem cell state. The new technique could help in the development of devastating neurodegenerative diseases, like ALS, that affect motor neurons.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 16, 2017·4 min read

Astrocytes Given Star Treatment

A new study tracks the development of astrocytes derived from human cortical spheroids. Researchers report hCSs grown astrocytes develop at the same rate as those in the human brain.

Image shows clusters of cells in green, pink and blue.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·August 11, 2017·6 min read

Novel Stem Cell-Derived Model Created of Inflammatory Neurological Disorder

UCSD researchers have successfully created a human stem cell based model of AGS, a rare, inherited autoimmune disorder.

Featured Genetics Neurology

·August 3, 2017·4 min read

How to Reprogram Cells in Our Immune System

According to a Nature study, researchers developed a method to reprogram specific T cells in the immune system. Scientists were able to turn pro-inflammatory cells into anti-inflammatory cells, and vice versa, to boost or suppress the immune system. Researchers believe their findings could have significant impact on developing treatments for autoimmune diseases.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·July 27, 2017·3 min read

Lab-Created Mini-Brains Reveal How Growing Organ Maintains Neuronal Balance

Researchers used hPSCs to grow an organoid that produces inhibitory neurons and plays a critical role in the early development of the cortex.

Image shows the location of the hypothalamus in the brain.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·July 27, 2017·4 min read

Brain Cells Found to Control Aging

A new Nature study reports hypothalamic neural stem cell decline accelerates as a result of aging. Introducing new stem cells into the brains of old mice slowed and reversed various measures of aging.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·July 19, 2017·5 min read

Lunatic Fringe Gene Plays Key Role in the Renewable Brain

A new study in eLife reports lunatic fringe genes mediates a mechanism that preserves neural stem cells, so they can form new neurons throughout life. The findings, researchers say, have far-reaching implications for the study of neurogenesis.

Image shows transplanted neural stem cells.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 11, 2017·4 min read

Neural Stem Cells Steered by Electric Fields in Rat Brain

A recent study in Stem Cell Reports suggests electrical fields can be used to help guide transplanted neural stem cells towards a specific location in the brain. The finding could pave the way for new treatment that could help repair brain damage.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·June 21, 2017·5 min read

Bitter or Sweet? How Taste Cells Decide What They Want to Be

Researchers shed new light on how stem cells on the tongue grow into different types of mature taste cells dedicated to specific tastes.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·June 16, 2017·2 min read

Distant Brain Regions Selectively Recruit Stem Cells

A new study reports long distance neural connections can target pools of stem cells in their niche and stimulate them to produce subtypes of olfactory bulb neurons.