A topic closely related to 3D printing of people parts is enabling a flexible source of the cells and tissues needed for such procedures. 2013 was a year of great progress in this area, with developments ranging from creation of mini-brains to a potential cure for baldness.
Here’s a short list of various types of cells, tissues, and organs researchers have succeeded in growing in 2013:- Lung cells
- Auditory hair cells (Deafness)
- Transplantation of retinal cells (Macular degeneration)
- Myelin-producing cells (Multiple sclerosis)
- Hair follicles (Baldness)
- Rat kidneys
- Heart muscle (Heart attack)
- Replacement teeth
- Mini-kidneys
- Mini-brains
The real question remaining after this year: Is there any type of cell or tissue we can’t figure out how to produce? We suspect that until medicine is able to substantially duplicate the contents of a brain, or some smoothly operating cerebral rejuvenation treatment comes along, 120 years will continue to be roughly the maximum human lifespan. However, we can still have hair at age 120! Many of these new methods are awaiting FDA approval for human testing, so in the short term you might still want to go ahead and get yourself a good toupée!
Source: Gizmag
