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Generation of iPSC-derived Human Brain Organoids to Model Early Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Published on: April 14, 2017
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Modeling Somatic Mutations Associated With Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Human Brain Organoids
Bipan K Deb1, Helen S Bateup1,2,3
1Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.
Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
|January 21, 2022
Summary
Somatic mutations in the developing brain contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Human brain organoids offer a powerful model to study how these mutations impact early brain development and function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) manifest early in life with diverse neurological and cognitive impairments.
- Somatic mutations, occurring after conception, are increasingly implicated in NDDs, particularly cortical malformations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence linking brain somatic mutations to NDDs.
- To explore the utility of human brain organoids in modeling these mutations and their effects.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature on somatic mutations and NDDs.
- Discussion of human brain organoid technology for modeling neurodevelopmental conditions.
Main Results:
- Somatic mutations are a significant factor in certain NDDs, affecting brain development.
- Human brain organoids effectively recapitulate early human brain development and progenitor cell types.
Conclusions:
- Human brain organoids provide a viable platform for studying the impact of NDD-associated somatic mutations.
- Further research using brain organoids can elucidate mechanisms underlying NDDs caused by somatic mutations.

