Learn about stem cell “mini brains” that grew eyes and how the FDA prevented an epidemic of birth defects in the 1960s. Scientists grew stem cell 'mini brains' that developed mini-eyes on their own by Cameron Duke Gabriel, E., Albanna, W., Pasquini, G., Ramani, A., Josipovic, N., Mariappan, A., Schinzel, F., Karch, C. M., Bao, G., Gottardo, M., Suren, A. A., Hescheler, J., Nagel-Wolfrum, K., Persico, V., Rizzoli, S. O., Altmüller, J., Riparbelli, M. G., Callaini, G., Goureau, O., & Papantonis, A. (2021). Human brain organoids assemble functionally integrated bilateral optic vesicles. Cell Stem Cell. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2021.07.010  Starr, M. (2021). Scientists Grew Stem Cell “Mini Brains”. Then, The Brains Sort-of Developed Eyes. ScienceAlert. https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-used-stem-cells-to-make-mini-brains-they-grew-rudimentary-eyes  The FDA never approved thalidomide, and that saved American babies by Briana Brownell James, A. J. (2021, August 17). How a “stubborn” Canadian saved thousands of American babies from birth defects. Nationalpost; National Post. https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/how-a-stubborn-canadian-saved-thousands-of-american-babies-from-birth-defects  ‌Phillips, S. (2020, March 9). How a courageous physician-scientist saved the U.S. from a birth-defects catastrophe. Uchicagomedicine.org; UChicago Medicine. https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/biological-sciences-articles/courageous-physician-scientist-saved-the-us-from-a-birth-defects-catastrophe  ‌Office of the Commissioner. (2019). Frances O. Kelsey. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-history-exhibits/frances-oldham-kelsey-medical-reviewer-famous-averting-public-health-tragedy  ‌McNeill, L. (2017, May 8). The Woman Who Stood Between America and a Generation of “Thalidomide Babies.” Smithsonian Magazine; Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/woman-who-stood-between-america-and-epidemic-birth-defects-180963165/  Follow Curiosity Daily on your favorite podcast app to learn something new every day withCody Gough andAshley Hamer. Still curious? Get exclusive science shows, nature documentaries, and more real-life entertainment on discovery+! Go to https://discoveryplus.com/curiosity to start your 7-day free trial. discovery+ is currently only available for US subscribers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.