Shafaqna English | by Farinaz Parnianifard, A study published in Nature Neuroscience suggests that the brain develops from two distinct groups of early cells rather than a single common pool, according to PsyPost.
Researchers found that one group gives rise mainly to the forebrain and midbrain, while another forms the hindbrain. Experiments in mouse embryos and human stem cells showed that these cell populations become committed to their developmental paths very early.
The researchers also identified distinct chromatin patterns that help maintain these separate identities. The same developmental split was observed in several other species, suggesting the mechanism may have been conserved for roughly 550 million years.
The team used the findings to produce functional human hindbrain motor neurons in the laboratory, which could provide a model for studying diseases such as ALS and spinal muscular atrophy.
Researchers cautioned that lab-grown cells do not fully reproduce embryonic development and that the work is not close to a stem-cell treatment. The findings instead provide a new framework for understanding brain development and disease.
Source: PsyPost