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Brain Cells Made From Urine

Press2ToContinue writes "Scientists have found a relatively straightforward way to persuade the cells discarded in human urine to turn into valuable neurons. The technique, described online in a study in Nature Methods this week (abstract), does not involve embryonic stem cells. These come with serious drawbacks when transplanted, such as the risk of developing tumors. Instead, the method uses ordinary cells present in urine, and transforms them into neural progenitor cells — the precursors of brain cells. Researchers routinely reprogram cultured skin and blood cells into induced pluripotent stem cells, which can go on to form any cell in the body. But urine is a much more accessible source."

17 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. Summing up... by Kergan · · Score: 5, Funny

    The future might include pee brains in addition to pea brains.

    1. Re:Summing up... by ozmanjusri · · Score: 5, Funny

      No problem. Us Aussies have always been piss-heads.

      --
      "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
    2. Re:Summing up... by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 5, Funny

      Brain cells made from urine?

      I'm pretty sure I used to work for that guy. ;-)

      --
      "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
      Never been known to fail..."
    3. Re:Summing up... by azalin · · Score: 3, Funny

      No Bear Grylls jokes yet?

    4. Re:Summing up... by rolfwind · · Score: 5, Funny

      Shit for brains is coming soon.

    5. Re:Summing up... by mwvdlee · · Score: 5, Funny

      I guess those golden shower perverts were on to something after all.

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    6. Re:Summing up... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      I hear that you have to consume a quantity of beer before the procedure, to up the number of dead brain cells in your urine.

    7. Re:Summing up... by Ginger+Unicorn · · Score: 3, Funny

      I've heard of stem cell therapy, but this is taking the piss...

      --
      (1.21 gigawatts) / (88 miles per hour) = 30 757 874 newtons
    8. Re:Summing up... by reboot246 · · Score: 2, Funny

      No need to wait. They're already here. See Washington D.C. for the best examples.

  2. Well, woman have always accused me... by Ardx · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...of thinking with my penis. Guess who's just got the last laugh now?

    --
    Whoa there dude! Check your keyboard, somebody might have slipped you a Dvorak.
    1. Re:Well, woman have always accused me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Wow. This went from a rather cheerful and funny discussion about pee brains to a rather disturbing self-gratifying statement on your penis going places its never gone before, like Spock and Kirk in a dark place.

  3. The circle is now complete. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Alcohol kills brain cells. Beer makes you pee. Finally, we're close to making this a zero-sum game. Cheers!

  4. It's a bright future. by klingers48 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Where "getting pissed" means an injection of new brain cells, not killing the ones you already have.

  5. Free as in beer by flyingfsck · · Score: 4, Funny

    So now brain cells can be free as in beer too...

    --
    Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
  6. Re:Piss for brains? by edelbrp · · Score: 4, Funny

    Don't joke! It leaves us only an inch away from shit for brains.

  7. And the Lord said.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...
    42. ...Thou shall not take of the piss that thou'st passeth after a heavy night at the inn and make of it an addition to thine body, or use it to adorn thyself, or for any medical purpose whatsoever.

    43. For the Lord thy God is a fastidious god, and does not like to see people messing around with things that are iccky. Nor does he want to give an opportunity for the unbelievers of Phillistine and Gath to make stupid puns about 'taking the piss'. Thine body is made in the image of the Lord, and if He had wanted you to employ the spillings of thy loins to improve thy brain, he would have made thy member long enough to place in thine ear. Nor yet shall ye retain this water in any kind of receptacle, lest ye be tempted by Satan to do what is unclean, but ye shall cast it out onto unshriven ground, where the dogs may smell it as they please.

    44. And Abraham spoke and said unto the Lord: "Lo, thy words are as a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. But what shall our brethren do if they are caught short at a party and cannot reach a station of comfort? Or, as it may be, some of thy handmaidens are already in there and taking their time about coming out?

    45. Then the Lord waxed exceeding wroth, and swore at Abraham, saying "Thou dissembler! It is not for the likes of thee to question my instructions! Should you try to catch out the Lord thy God again, thy throat will catch fire, and not one of thy tribe shall be found who may pee in your mouth....

    from the third Book of Emissions (Golden Showers edition)..

  8. Re:Piss for brains? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Might leave you only one inch away, but for me it's about eight.