https://anjalipatel.org/tags/women-in-science/ Recent content in Women in Science on Anjali Patel Hugo en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://anjalipatel.org/computational-reproductive-biology-part-5-how-are-organoids-formed/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://anjalipatel.org/computational-reproductive-biology-part-5-how-are-organoids-formed/ <p>Understanding organoids goes beyond knowing what they are; it involves exploring how such complex, tissue-like structures can actually emerge under controlled laboratory conditions.</p> <ul> <li><strong>A major breakthrough came in 2009</strong>, when Hans Clevers and his team demonstrated that single stem cells from intestinal tissue could self-organize into mini-intestinal organoids (&ldquo;mini-gut&rdquo;) in vitro. These structures exhibited key features of real tissue, including crypt-like and villus-like organization, establishing the principle that cells can recreate complex architecture on their own.</li> </ul> <p>Interestingly, this study also highlighted that cells possess an intrinsic ability to self-organize into three-dimensional tissue-like structures, even in the absence of external supporting cells, provided the right biochemical and physical environment is maintained.</p>