Potential of 'Organoid Intelligence' to Create Revolutionary Bio-Computers

• 06 Mar 2023

On March 6, 2023, it was reported that scientists from Johns Hopkins University (JHU) have introduced a new field of study called "organoid intelligence" with the aim of developing "bio-computers".

• The purpose of the research on biocomputers and brain organoids: To compare brain organoids from healthy individuals with those from patients to understand the biological basis of cognitive disorders and neurodegenerative diseases by analyzing brain structure, connections, and signaling.
• Other ways to study the human brain: Scientists have transplanted human brain organoids into rat brains, where they formed connections and were functionally active.
• About the ‘bio-computer: "Bio-computers” are being developed by combining brain organoids with modern computing methods. Organoids will be grown inside flexible structures with multiple electrodes to record the firing patterns of neurons and deliver electrical stimuli.

• Comparing brain structure of healthy and patient-derived organoids to study neurological diseases.
• Studying neuron connections and signaling in organoids for a better understanding of brain function.
• Using brain organoids to identify the biological basis of cognition, learning, and memory.
• Using brain organoids for drug development and early detection/diagnosis of neurological diseases.
• ‘Bio-computers’ suitability for commercial use: The development of 'bio-computers' using brain organoids is still in the early stages and requires scaling up and incorporating non-neuronal cells to improve computing capacity.
• To improve the computing capacity of brain organoids, researchers need to develop micro fluidic systems for transport, use advanced techniques to analyze the data, and establish an ethics team to address emerging ethical concerns.