Neuronal symbol of the Olympic Games

2002/01/16 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Medikuntza
• Giza zientziak

Mike Manwarín, a university graduate in Salt Lake City, has made the biological symbol of the 2002 Olympic Games. In fact, he has completed this curious image with live neurons.

The diameter of the body of each neuron is two fifths of the human hair and the axon fifty of the hair. The researcher has used the engineering technology of tissues and living cells to produce a symbol of 3.4 mm length. In this way, it has multiplied the neurons on a plastic stand that has the appearance of symbol of the Olympic Games and has dyed them in fluorescent red.

Through this experiment, Mike Manwarín wanted to show that scientists are able to control cell growth. He says that one day, thanks to this technology, people with Alzheimer's disease can be helped or have the column damaged by accidents.