GoKawiilStanford study finds brain develops from two distinct stem cell lineages
Stanford School of Medicine researchers report that the human brain forms from two separate types of stem cells rather than one uniform source. One lineage, marked by the Otx2 gene, produces the midbrain and forebrain responsible for higher-order thinking and speech, while a distinct stem cell type gives rise to the hindbrain, which governs basic functions like heartbeat and breathing. Researcher Kyle Loh says this finding allows scientists to grow hindbrain neurons in a lab dish for the first time.