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Illinois IGB

Gallery

Art of Science 08

Pig Brain
Building Blocks

Zeiss Sigma VP 3View Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscope

Stephen Fleming and Kingsley Boateng

Ryan Dilger Laboratory

Funded by Mead Johnson Nutrition
This image shows the composition of the brain on a cellular level: one can see the half-pipe shape of a blood vessel wall and the smaller cross-sections of neurons and other brain cells. Researchers are investigating the anatomy of the pig brain to better understand how early-life nutrition affects brain development. By studying an animal model with very similar neuroanatomy as the human, researchers hope to improve upon infant formula and its ability to promote health.