One of the major outstanding questions I have as a neuroscientist is whether the classic experimental approaches used here can ever get us to the 'understanding

One of the major outstanding questions I have as a neuroscientist is whether the classic experimental approaches used here can ever get us to the 'understanding' the is needed to build something that looks like a brain. I have been leaning toward the thought that we are likely to make faster progress by letting the synthetic biologists have a shot at it, even if it means we will be stumbling around in the dark if we stray even slightly from the steps they learn to take.