Discover new brain cells

Researchers at the Salk Research Institute and the University of California San Diego have discovered a way to classify neurons at the molecular level.

This will help scientists compose the "list of parts" of the brain, based on that result, they can create appropriate interfaces to improve brain function.

Discover new neurons

Mapping the functions of the brain correctly is the most promising step to transform human activities to a simple level.

Human brain activity - once detailed at the molecular level, can help researchers find new ways to treat neurological diseases. They even allow for increased human intelligence.

Currently, innovation researchers are working very hard to develop technology linked to the brain, to enhance its function. However, before we can deploy such technologies, we need to know fully how the brain works. But science only "understands" a very small part of the brain.

Recently, a team of researchers from the Salk Research Institute and the University of California San Diego have reported: They have made an important discovery that can help science in the effort to understand the complexity of the brain. . Through a relatively new process, scientists have discovered new types of brain cells.

Discover new brain cells.(Photo: Internet).

The study's lead author Joseph Ecker, director of Salk's Genetic Analysis Laboratory and member of Howard Hughes Medical Institute, said: 'In the past decades, neurons have been identified according to their shape. Now, we can apply molecular methods to determine the exact types of cells. We only need to consider the change of methylation structure between cells. '

In short, under the microscope - the arrangement of the molecular structure of neurons is the same. Thanks to that, we can start sorting them into small groups to better understand the functions of each group.

"We think we can separate the brain into individual cells and arrange the methylomes (a set of modified methylated nucleic acids in the genome of an organ or in a particular cell). After that, we identified many new cell types along with genetic modification factors, as well as genetic tools that make these neurons different, " Ecker added.

Make the list

This study will allow scientists to get a complete "list of parts" of each neuron and its function. According to Chonguan Luo, a research associate with Salk, and co-author of the study, such mapping opens a new set of doors.

"There are hundreds, if not thousands, of brain cells that have different functions and behaviors. In order to understand how the brain works, it is important that we know all kinds of neurons. -ron, ' he said.

As mentioned earlier, these findings can have a profound impact on how we study and treat neurological disorders. The next part of the team is to study differences in molecular levels in the brains of healthy people compared to those with brain-related diseases.

"If there is a defect that is only one percent of a cell, we can still detect it by this method. Previously, we had almost no chance to detect the disease in one. The ratio is so small , 'Eker said.

With this tool, future research will be able to focus on correcting abnormalities in the human brain.

"From these kinds of information, we can develop new tools that can study specific cell populations - when we know their existence , " Ecker said.

Researchers hope, understanding the brain at a small level - will undoubtedly open up a range of possibilities for treating disease and improving brain function in the future.