Regenerating Memory with Neural Stem Cells

Science Daily June 14, 2016 Texas A&M University

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Although brains — even adult brains — are far more malleable than we used to think, they are eventually subject to age-related illnesses, like dementia, and loss of cognitive function. Someday, though, we may actually be able to replace brain cells and restore memory.

Someday, though, we may actually be able to replace brain cells and restore memory. Recent work by Ashok K. Shetty, Ph.D., a professor …

After Secret Harvard Meeting, Scientists Announce Plans for Synthetic Human Genomes

The Washington Post June 2, 2016 by Joel Achenbach

Three weeks ago, 130 scientists, entrepreneurs and policy leaders held an invitation-only, closed-door meeting at Harvard University to discuss an ambitious plan to create synthetic human genomes. Now, after a flurry of criticism over the secrecy of the effort, the participants have published their idea, declaring that they’re launching a project to radically reduce the cost of synthesizing genomes — a potentially revolutionary development in biotechnology …

Lab-Grown Bones Successfully Implanted in Pigs

New York Times June 22, 2016  by Nicholas Bakalar

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Above an image of regenerated bone grown from stem cells

The pigs, all 14 of them, are doing fine. Considering they’d been retrofitted with bone grown in a laboratory, that came as a pleasant surprise.

“The pigs woke up, and a half-hour later they were eating,” said Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, a professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia University. “We thought they would be in pain. But no, …