After earlier experiments on mice, it is now possible to create human embryos out of stem cells. This allows us to make human life without sperm or eggs. Since the experiments are limited by ethical concerns they stopped the growth of the embryo at an early stage. This research could lead to a better understanding of early development and could allow us someday to design our successor species.
Tag: Biology
Researchers at Duke’s Center for In Vivo Microscopy, in collaboration with other institutions, have achieved a breakthrough in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, capturing the highest resolution images ever of a mouse brain. Using an incredibly powerful 9.4 Tesla magnet, 100 times stronger gradient coils than those used in clinical MRIs, and a high-performance computer, the team generated scans with voxels (cubic pixels) measuring just 5 microns, 64 million times smaller than those in a clinical MRI.
The team combined these high-resolution MRI scans with light sheet microscopy, a complementary technique that allows for specific cell labeling, to create vivid and detailed images of the entire mouse brain. These images provide unprecedented insights into brain connectivity, changes in brain structure with age, and the effects of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
The researchers believe that this breakthrough in MRI resolution will greatly enhance our understanding of diseases, leading to better insights into conditions such as Alzheimer’s, and how they may affect the human brain. The ability to visualize the brain in such microscopic detail opens up new possibilities for studying the effects of diet, drugs, and other interventions on brain health and longevity.
A team of researchers published an article on their research on biocomputing. It goes in-depth about the potential of such systems and how to build them. The core idea is to grow brain tissue out of stem cells to use the high energy efficiency and ability to perform complex tasks with organoid-computer interfaces. Instead of copying the human brain with AI, we use it directly as a computing device. Since it is much more likely to develop conscious systems this way, the ethical side of this research is critical. The article also explores the ways this research can help understand our own brain and cognitive diseases. Research like this pushes our understanding of consciousness and intelligence.
The NYU Grossman school of medicine published a paper that showed that by using AI it is possible to build zinc-finger protein structures that are as effective and fast as CRISPR and also a potentially safer alternative to CRISPR. This shows once again that AI and biology work perfectly together.