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We are looking at a miniature brain created from stem cells, which have spontaneously sprouted embryonic eye-like structures called optic cups.

The cups are two strata of cells which will give rise to the retina.  In this study, they developed several types of retinal cells that organized into neuronal networks and displayed connectivity with other regions of the brain organoid, becoming fully integrated and responding to light.  This allowed researchers a glimpse into the interactions between the eyes and brain of a developing embryo.

Researchers were able to reproduce these findings - out of 314 mini-brains, 72% grew the optic cups.

"These organoids can help to study brain-eye interactions during embryo development, model congenital retinal disorders, and generate patient-specific retinal cell types for personalized drug testing and transplantation therapies."

Study author, Jay Gopalakrishnan

IFLScience