| Degeneration of neurons in the brain causes severe conditions such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease. Even though in some cases (such as Huntington’s disease), we know the precise genetic mutations involved, we still do not understand how these mutations cause degeneration of neurons. Fortunately, it is possible to simulate these diseases in the lab using embryonic stem (ES) cells. The mutation in Huntington’s disease can be incorporated in ES cells, then the ES cells are differentiated into neurons in a culture dish, providing a valuable model to study the cell biology of this disease and also to test drugs that might prevent degeneration. This is a picture of embryonic stem cells that have formed neurons, each having long fibrous processes. The color of the image has been manipulated. |
