Opinion: STAT+: What to think about those mice with half-human brains

My team has injected human stem cells into mice brains before. But new research goes well beyond that STAT//Robert F. Bukaty/AP Sept. 30, 2026 Knoepfler is a professor of cell biology and human anatomy at UC Davis School of Medicine and author of Lab Dish, a STAT column about regenerative medicine. What would happen if you generated a new type of lab mouse whose brain was substantially human? Would they be really smart or somehow have a different consciousness? Until now, such trains of thought mostly were chugging through fictional realms such as “Flowers for Algernon” or the cartoon “Pinky and the Brain.” However, science is catching up with fiction. A team led by Stanford professor Sergiu Pașca just reported in Nature on the development of a mouse with a cortex made of human brain cells. Reading this paper initially gave me a combination of “wow” and “whoa” reactions. After all, the unique cortex of our brains is the major factor in what makes us human and is the center of complex thought. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe