organoid

1. Brain organoids
Hodder & Stoughton © 2022

2. What are organoids?
Hodder & Stoughton © 2022
Stem cells
Stem cells are special cells that are
pluripotent, i.e. they can produce
different types of cell. In the
laboratory they can be used to
produced miniature organ-like
structures called organoids.
We can instruct stem cells to
produce particular organoids, e.g.
feeding adenosine to stem cells
leads to bone tissue production.
Organoids
A stem cell

3. Brain organoids
Hodder & Stoughton © 2022
Brain regions can be seen after
around 30 days and by 9 months the
development of mini-brains appears
to be regulated by gene expression
similar to that in a new-born.
There are several ways to make brain
organoids. One way is shown here.
Brain organoids can be connected to
make brain assembloids.

4. Hodder & Stoughton © 2022
Uses of brain organoids
Studying autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Brain organoids grown from stem cells taken
from people with ASD have revealed abnormal
gene activity impacting on particular types of
neuron.
Studying schizophrenia
Altering brain organoids at very early stages
of development has produced changes
similar to those observed in schizophrenia,
casting light on how schizophrenia might
develop.
Studying Alzheimers
Brain organoids grown from cells
taken from family members of
patients developed the same kind
of protein tangles that obstruct
synaptic transmission in
Alzheimers.

5. Hodder & Stoughton © 2022
Ethical issues
There are some unique ethical issues arising when we
speak about human brain organoids.
Could brain organoids
become conscious?
Things we can’t know How intelligent can brain
organoids become?
What would it be like to be an
intelligent and conscious organoid?

6. Hodder & Stoughton © 2022
Ethical decisions
At some point we will have to make ethical decisions about
what directions (if any) to take brain organoid research:
Should brain organoids have rights
in line with their intelligence?
Key ethical decisions
Should we limit organoid sophistication
so they cannot become conscious?
Given the potential for brain organoids
to help understand and perhaps cure
brain conditions, how can we balance
benefits against harm?

7. Conclusions
• We are now able to grow miniature human ‘brains’ from stem cells.
• These human brain organoids provide a unique environment in
which to study how the brain works.
• Brain organoids have led to new understandings of serious brain
conditions including autism and Alzheimer’s. They may help us
treat and even cure such conditions.
• We don’t know whether a brain organoid might develop
consciousness or what it might be like to be a brain organoid.
• We have some hugely important ethical decisions to make about
the future of brain organoids.
Hodder & Stoughton © 2022