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Using organoids to study human brain development and evolution
Author(s) -
Chan WaiKit,
Fetit Rana,
Griffiths Rosie,
Marshall Helen,
Mason John O.,
Price David J.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
developmental neurobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.716
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1932-846X
pISSN - 1932-8451
DOI - 10.1002/dneu.22819
Subject(s) - organoid , neuroscience , human brain , biology , brain development , human disease , cognitive science , computer science , psychology , gene , biochemistry
Abstract Recent advances in methods for making cerebral organoids have opened a window of opportunity to directly study human brain development and disease, countering limitations inherent in non‐human‐based approaches. Whether freely patterned, guided into a region‐specific fate or fused into assembloids, organoids have successfully recapitulated key features of in vivo neurodevelopment, allowing its examination from early to late stages. Although organoids have enormous potential, their effective use relies on understanding the extent of their limitations in accurately reproducing specific processes and components in the developing human brain. Here we review the potential of cerebral organoids to model and study human brain development and evolution and discuss the progress and current challenges in their use for reproducing specific human neurodevelopmental processes.