Scientists Successfully Grow Human Notochord in Lab for the First Time

Breakthrough at the Francis Crick Institute provides new insights into spinal development and birth defects.

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have created human stem cell models containing notochord, a tissue crucial for spinal and nervous system development.
The notochord serves as a 'GPS system' during embryonic development, guiding cells to form the spine and nervous system along the body's main axis.
Using data from chicken, mouse, and monkey embryos, scientists identified the precise molecular signals required to produce notochord tissue from human stem cells.
The lab-grown notochord successfully organized surrounding neural and bone stem cells, mimicking natural embryonic development patterns.
This advancement could aid in studying spinal birth defects and age-related conditions such as intervertebral disc degeneration.