kitsch ([info]morekitsch) wrote,
2005-07-28 07:59:00
Sometimes people are clever. And creepy. A group of Swedish scientists wanted to study how long cells last in the human brain. They were able to do so because of nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons tests in the 50s increased the levels of Carbon-14 in the atmosphere, which then were reduced after the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963. The carbon was incorporated into the DNA of cells born at that time. The scientists used carbon dating to determine if cells in particular brain regions came from birth in the 50s or from more recent replacement. I am in awe.

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[info]ndrtoon

July 28 2005, 15:41:51 UTC 6 years ago

But you do not tell us the answer! How long do the cells last?

[info]morekitsch

July 28 2005, 18:37:19 UTC 6 years ago

Beg pardon. Occipital lobe neurons are the same age as the person they are in, while support cells in the same region are much younger. There is, without a doubt, growth of new neurons in the cerebellum which are involved in learning, but according to this study, the occipital neurons you start with are the only ones you get.

[info]ndrtoon

July 28 2005, 18:48:16 UTC 6 years ago

This begs the question of whether or not you can steal someone else's occipital neurons and implant them in your own brain. Doesn't it beg that question? I think so.

[info]morekitsch

July 28 2005, 22:14:30 UTC 6 years ago

I try not to implant anything into my own brain. My aim isn't so good up there.
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