Not quite. Kidney’s can make memories on a molecular level
but not the type of memories we commonly think of. Kidney cells, like neurons,
can store information and recognize patterns. The researcher, Nikolay Kukushkin,
says that this does not contradict current knowledge on memories, it simply
adds to current knowledge because they do not act like neuron memories. Other
cells, like neurons, need to keep track of stuff that is going on which they do
using a protein central to memory process called CREB. For a little background
in memory in neurons, a chemical signal passed through them which then begins
CREB production. CREB activated more genes which change the cell and start the
molecular memory machine.
Through their experiment of inserting embryonic kidney cells
with a glowing gene found in fireflies, they activated memory instructions in
the kidney cell. The kidney cell responded to artificial chemical pulses which are
like the signals which trigger memory in neurons. Different lengths of pulses triggered
various levels of responses, or lighter. It is believed the newfound idea that
cells can be given more complicated memory tasks, that this has a potential to
introduce new potential drugs to treat disease, specifically memory loss related.
This has enormous potential, and I would love to see where
it goes. It is currently just a thought and a small step in proving potential
of this finding. I do not see why other cells could not mimic the process of
neurons because at a simple level neurons are just specialized cells, so it
makes sense that these kidney cells could perform this. It would be interesting
to see this application in medicine or aiding those with memory loss.
Links
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/brain-kidney-cells-memory
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/inside-the-science-of-memory
