Stanford scientists discover the human brain may actually be two separate organs

Scientists at Stanford have discovered that the human brain develops from two distinct cellular systems. This groundbreaking finding suggests that evolution merged two ancient nervous systems that had very different functions. It is believed that these systems gradually fused into a single organ. Thanks to this discovery, researchers were able to grow human hindbrain neurons in the lab. This capability opens new possibilities for studying serious neurological diseases. These include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal muscular atrophy, and other brainstem diseases. The research may thus lead to a better understanding and potentially new treatments for these conditions.