Scientists Find a Strange New Cell in Human Brains: The 'Rosehip Neuron'

[Judi Lynn]

By Yasemin Saplakoglu, Staff Writer | August 27, 2018 03:27pm ET

Neuroscientists have made a rosy discovery: a new type of human brain cell.

The newest neuron has been named the "rosehip neuron," thanks to its bushy appearance. The brain cell, with its unique genes, distinctive shape and diverse connections with other neurons, has not been described before and, what's more, it isn't present in neuroscientists' favorite subject: mice. [3D Images: Exploring the Human Brain]

An international group of researchers reported their finding today (Aug. 27) in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

"It's very bushy," said Trygve Bakken, one of the lead authors of the paper and senior scientist at the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle. Neurons have long branches called dendrites that receive signals from other neurons. In the rosehip cells, these dendrites are "very compact with lots of branch points, so it kind of looks a little bit like a rosehip," Bakken told Live Science. (Rosehips are a type of fruit produced by rose plants.)

More:
https://www.livescience.com/63441-new-brain-cell-rosehip-neuron.html?utm_source=notification

[dameatball]

1. Judi Lynn, thank you for the interesting posts from time to time. Many of us enjoy them.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. +1. I agree w dameatball. Thank you! . . . nt

[silverweb]

3. Wow!

The implications of this are momentous! Great find, Judi. Thanks!

[flying rabbit]

4. You do find some gems