Stanford creates xenocortical mice with ~92% human-stem-cell cortex
anilkseth · x · 2026-09-17
A milestone Nature paper from Sergiu Pasca's Stanford lab, led by Konstantin Kaganovsky, created "xenocortical mice" whose cortex is 92% occupied by a human stem-cell-derived cortical organoid. The graft integrates deeply with the host nervous system, supporting organized neural activity and behavior, enabling behavioral, neural, and genetic assays of human brain tissue. The team proactively addressed ethical concerns, but open questions remain — such as whether these mice are conscious.
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