http://www.pbs.org/saf/1107/features/body.htm
Recently, I read an article that explained how science is going into scientifically growing human body parts. Scientists like Bon Langer and Joseph Vacanti were called the pioneers of this increasingly experimental process. They were almost unsuccessful at showing others their work at first when both Langer and Vacanti couldn't even get there work published. Now, today, the first tissue engineered skin is called "Neo-organ" and was approved by the U.S. Food and drug administration. This could lead to many great things in the future like custom-made hearts, livers, breasts, corneas, kidneys, and bone marrow. Some bladders could even be made, which could offer solutions to a lot of life-threatening illnesses. Although this may take years upon years to accomplish, the idea of this actually coming true is amazing!
The fascinating part about this is by scientists doing this process they have already attempted and succeeded in growing an ear off of a mouse. Scientists had to combine the right kind compounds so that they could coax cells into growing and proliferating. They also had to pay special attention to the cells surroundings in order to make useful tissue. Which is good because I'm sure no one would want an ear created for them that didn't work because it wasn't biologically useful to them.
The whole process of growing an ear on a mouse was pretty remarkable to read about. First, tissue engineers actually mold the biodegradable scaffold into the proper size and shape for a human. Then, Researchers "seed" the scaffold with new cartilage cells and surgically implant the mold under the skin. The mouse, which is hairless and is specially bred to lack an immune system so that the human tissue won't reject it, takes care of the ear as the cartilage cells grow. As you can see from the picture that I posted below, the result comes out to ear grown on the mouse with a good shape and size. When the ear is removed from the mouse, the mouse is left unharmed and still in a healthy condition.
Eventually scientists are looking forward to trying to get the cells grow on their own through the body. They think by implanting the "seeds" into an ailing organ they can get to the scientific level of the body generically growing a "patch" of healthy tissues through its biochemistry. The shape of how the organ isn't so much important to them right now according to Joseph Vacanti. He stated, "Both functions are important but, in many circumstances, the shape is less important than the exchange of nutrients. "
I, for one, believe that if all goes well this will be a great scientific step in the world. There are a lot of people just in the U.S. that have been on waiting on lists for a transplant for a very long time. If scientists were able to help patients grow their own body parts that they needed think about about lives would be saved! I hope that all turns out good in the scientists experiments, because hey, you never know, I could be needing a body part when I'm older or something. Or even my children could. If this process is successful it will be a worldwide, life-changing process for everyone involved.
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