Adam Manwill

BIOL 1090
September 17, 2021

Scientists have created brain organoids that “produced complex electrical activity that echoed the
brain waves a full-sized brain makes” (Sanders, 2021). This can be used to study how the human
brain works and conditions in which the brain doesn’t work completely right. In their study they
made some brain organoids grown from healthy people’s stem cells and some from two patients
with Rhett Syndrome mutations, “These organoids looked like those grown from healthy people,
but behaved differently in some ways.” (Sanders, 2021). The researchers published in Nature
Neuroscience (Samarasinghe, 2021).

This can help scientists learn and understand brain diseases better and even test possible
treatments for brain diseases without risking a human in the process. Organoids are artificially
grown masses of cells or tissues that resemble organs. This could lead to breakthroughs in
treatments for people with specifically Rhett Syndrome, and eventually other syndromes as well.

The scientists mentioned in the primary source are affiliated with nonpartisan groups, there were
quite a few scientists that contributed to the primary source, but they were all associated with
universities. Hypothetically, if they were associated with for-profit corporations, I would be a
little skeptical of the study and the conclusions they drew from it; and would probably have to do
some more research from some other sources. There aren’t any scientists, policy-makers
mentioned in the article of being in disagreement. In fact, coauthor Bennett Novitch states “Work
on this front is already under way in labs around the world.” (Sanders, 2021). Which shows that
there is support for this idea and research by fellow scientists and researchers around the world.

This article expanded my views on the topic significantly. I didn’t even know organoids were a
thing. It also caused me to research a bit and doublecheck to see the status on the legality of stem
cell research in the United States. I remember when I was in high school that it was a hot topic. I
found out that it was actually legal when I was in high school and that it was mostly about setting
restrictions on its funding and use, I also learned that “a number of states restrict research on
aborted fetuses or embryos, but in some cases, research may be permitted with consent of the
patient” (Cunha, 2020). It taught me that there is some very cool ways to study brain disorders
since the stem cells from a person with Rhett Syndrome would cause a brain organoid with Rhett
Syndrome to be formed, which they could then safely test. I think this is so cool and could be
really beneficial to a lot of people.

I chose this article to analyze because the title caught my eye. I didn’t know what an “organoid”
was, and I wanted to learn what it was and what they meant by “demystify disorders”. I also
wanted to know what they meant by “personalized”. I had all these questions answered by the
author in this article. She did a very good job at providing background and explaining things
very simply. She was able to set up the necessary knowledge that facilitated my understanding of
the topic. She explained how they created two kinds of brain organoids, from healthy and then
from those with Rhett Syndrome, then explained the differences between the two types of
organoids.
 Reference List
Sanders, L. (2021, September 3). Brain organoids created from stem cells of people with
RhettSyndrome had the same mutations in the MECP2 gene and behaved differently than the
organoids created from healthy people’s stem cells. This opens the door for research and testing
treatment on organoids that could benefit patients. Science News. Retrieved September 17, 2021
from https://www.sciencenews.org/article/brain-human-organoids-personalized-cluster-cells-
study-disorders

Cunha, J. (2020, December 2). There are two types of Stem Cells, Embryonic and Adult. What
stem cells are currently used for is discussed, and that scientists believe stem cells can be the
future for treating heart disease. Also the legality of stem cell research in the U.S. is discussed.
eMedicine Health. Retrieved September 17, 2021 from
https://www.emedicinehealth.com/is_stem_cell_research_illegal_in_the_united_states/article_e
m.htm