Taun Posted June 4, 2015 #1 Share Posted June 4, 2015 For the first time, scientists create a lab-grown limb Researchers have grown a rat limb with functioning muscles and veins.Bernhard Jank, MD, Ott Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Regenerative Medicine Mind-controlled robotic limbs for amputees are growing more sophisticated all the time -- but a challenger has appeared. Human limb transplant surgery using the patient's own biological material could one day be an actuality. The proof of concept, published this week in the journal Biomaterials, is the limb of a rat, grown in a lab by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, with functioning vascular (veins) and muscle tissue. Complete article at: http://www.yahoo.com/tech/s/first-time-scientists-create-lab-061807570.html 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaturtlehorsesnake Posted June 4, 2015 #2 Share Posted June 4, 2015 this is a pretty big step, isn't it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taun Posted June 4, 2015 Author #3 Share Posted June 4, 2015 this is a pretty big step, isn't it? Very big... If they can produce replacement limbs (or even organs) from a persons own cells, the risk of rejection goes way down, and who wouldn't rather have a natural arm, leg, hand or foot rather than a mechanical one?... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaturtlehorsesnake Posted June 4, 2015 #4 Share Posted June 4, 2015 that's what i thought. i remember reading a few years back that they'd manage to grow bone tissue with the vascular connections working (i think that was it), and that was a big deal, so this is several magnitudes more. it's really remarkable. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarius Chik Posted June 4, 2015 #5 Share Posted June 4, 2015 That is.....simply amazing. I don't think the article said if they actually attached it to a rat though. When they figure that out- especially if it works, it'll be like when man went to the moon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
questionmark Posted June 4, 2015 #6 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Very big... If they can produce replacement limbs (or even organs) from a persons own cells, the risk of rejection goes way down, and who wouldn't rather have a natural arm, leg, hand or foot rather than a mechanical one?... I would not quite call it "natural" if grown in a lab, but it sure beats having to oil your hand every morning. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cesadelo Posted June 4, 2015 #7 Share Posted June 4, 2015 (edited) It's astonishing, yet I have to say that this already happened around 20-25 years ago. Edited June 4, 2015 by Cesadelo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperdyer Posted June 4, 2015 #8 Share Posted June 4, 2015 That's great news! My son-in-law has a deformed right hand that didn't develop. This could help him. At least if the recipient's DNA is used, we don't have to worry about what happened to Dr. Connor in Spider-Man (The Lizard) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark_Grey Posted June 4, 2015 #9 Share Posted June 4, 2015 It will be interesting down the road when some people request robotic limbs and others want the certified organic© limbs. Eventually, it will be all out war between the "normies" and the cyborgs. (SPOILER: The cyborgs win) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeastieRunner Posted June 4, 2015 #10 Share Posted June 4, 2015 This is pretty cool. I have a friend with no limbs and she actually pointed this story out on my Facebook. If it did become viable, I don't see her using it, though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imaginarynumber1 Posted June 4, 2015 #11 Share Posted June 4, 2015 Finally!!! Now They can grow me a gorilla-cyborg body! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiphead Posted June 4, 2015 #12 Share Posted June 4, 2015 So is the regrown limb actually attached to the rat; as in, the rat grew the limb back? Or is it just grown in a petre dish and there is still the challenge of attaching it to regain full functionality? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FissionChip Posted June 4, 2015 #13 Share Posted June 4, 2015 It seems it was done both in vitro and in vivo, so they may in fact have reconnected the limb, but the abstract is too technical for me to understand with any certainty. Other scientists have performed hand transplants though that have been successful and this new science will make those transplants even easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zalmoxis Posted June 5, 2015 #14 Share Posted June 5, 2015 What I see is that regenerating body parts will one day become ingrained in our DNA once scientists perfect it in the laboratory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted June 5, 2015 #15 Share Posted June 5, 2015 Pretty cool stuff. I wonder how long it will be till you can replace limbs that are defective (arthritis ect..) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreatBeliever Posted June 6, 2015 #16 Share Posted June 6, 2015 They say in the near future we could grow back a limb.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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