How do human organs develop and what happens to them when they become diseased? To answer these questions, researchers are increasingly focusing on so-called organoids. These mini-organs, just a few millimeters in size, consist of groups of cells cultivated in the laboratory that can form organ-like structures.
Similar to embryonic development, organoids make it possible to investigate the interaction of cells in three-dimensional space—for example in metabolic processes or disease mechanisms.
The production of organoids is tricky; the required nutrients, growth factors and signaling molecules must be added in a specific order and at specific times according to a precise schedule.
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