The changes in our genes since our ancestors and apes evolved from a common ancestor helped us develop bigger brains and upright walking. But did they also have a downside?

Cortical organoids — miniature models of brain tissue grown from stem cells — are becoming increasingly relevant in biotechnology for their usefulness in drug discovery, the study of infectious disease, and more.

Four years ago, UC Santa Cruz’s Jason Eshraghian developed a Python library that combines neuroscience with artificial intelligence to create spiking neural networks, a machine learning method that takes inspiration from the brain’s ability to efficiently process data.

The UC Santa Cruz Braingeneers are using cutting-edge smart technologies to streamline their research on human brain ogranoids and learn more about what makes humans unique. Listen to Deanna MacNeil from The Scientist’s podcast interview UCSC Braingeneers Sofie Salama and David Haussler about the smart technology behind growing brain organoids.

WetAI is an innovative online platform designed to democratize neuroscience education and neuroscience experiments involving cerebral organoids by providing remote access and AI interactivity. This digital system empowers researchers and students to not only observe and manipulate neural network activity, but also to fine-tune remote devices during experiments and collaborate seamlessly across various institutions.