Context: 

Scientists at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) recently outlined a plan for a potentially revolutionary new area of research called “organoid intelligence”, which aims to create “bio­computers”. 

Image Source: The Hindu

What is biocomputer

• Here, brain cultures grown in the lab are coupled to real­world sensors and input/output devices.
• The scientists expect the technology to harness the processing power of the brain and understand the biological basis of human cognition, learning, and various neurological disorders.

Premise of this technology

• Studying the human brain has been difficult, and researchers have traditionally used rat brains to investigate neurological disorders.
• Scientists are now building 3D cultures of brain tissue in the lab called brain organoids to develop systems more relevant to humans.
• Brain organoids are built using human stem cells and capture many structural and functional features of a developing human brain.
• Researchers use brain organoids to study human brain development and test drugs to see how they respond.
• However, brain organoids currently lack sensory inputs and blood circulation, limiting their growth and sophistication.

What is the new ‘bio­computer’? 

• JHU researchers plan to create “bio-computers” by combining brain organoids with modern computing methods.
• Organoids will be grown inside flexible structures with multiple electrodes to record firing patterns and deliver electrical stimuli.
• Machine-learning techniques will be used to analyze the response patterns of neurons and their effects on human behavior and biology.
• Human neurons have already been grown on a microelectrode array that can both record and stimulate them.
• Brain organoids can be developed using stem cells from individuals with neurodegenerative or cognitive disorders.
• Comparing data between healthy and patient-derived organoids can reveal the biological basis of human cognition, learning, and memory.

Opportunities for ‘bio-computers’:

• Processing complex information: Bio-computers can utilize the superior processing power of the human brain to handle complex tasks.
• Researching neurodegenerative diseases: Brain organoids developed using stem cells from patients with neurodegenerative diseases can be used to decode the pathology of these diseases and develop drugs to treat them.
• Revealing the biological basis of human cognition: Comparing the data on brain structure, connections, and signalling between healthy and patient-derived organoids can reveal the biological basis of human cognition, learning, and memory.
• Advancing drug development: Brain organoids can be used to test drugs for effectiveness and safety before they are tested on humans, potentially speeding up the drug development process.

Are ‘bio­computers’ ready for commercial use?

• Scaling up brain organoids and incorporating non-neuronal cells is crucial for improving their computing capacity. 
• Developing microfluidic systems and Big Data infrastructure will also be necessary to generate and store large amounts of data. 
• Scientists have said that the challenge is now to establish long­-term memory which is expected to be achieved this within 1-­2 years. 
• There is also a proposal for an ethics team to address any ethical concerns.

News Source: The Hindu The Hindu