Mum's can thank their children for their brains

In class, I mentioned stem cells from the fetus colonising the mother. A new report mentions that stem cells from the fetus can cross the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier normally prevents foreign molecules from freely interacting with brain cells, so it is a bit of a surprise that intact cells make it to the brain. It remains to be demonstrated, but an hypothesis is that the fetal brain cells help to rejuvinate the mother's brain thereby enhancing the Mother's chance of survival. Forget altruism. A healthy Mum is a fetus' way of ensuring its own survival.