BBC Focus Magazine

[Healerman]

I found this rather promising bit of news.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 161253.htm

It could be offering real hope to a lot of people.

However, in a recent proof of concept experiment, a rat was given a replacement liver, grown from its own cells. Work on damaged kidneys, has isolated a protein which prompts the growth of new nephrons. The pieces seem to be falling into place.

So the question is, which will arrive first, the artificial kidney, or grow your own

[M Paul Lloyd]

I think artificial might be first as we already have a lot of the hardware on the shelf and it could be used almost as soon as a prototype can be built but 'grow your own', even once it is proved viable for human application is (I would suspect) going to have to face a lot more in the way of clinical trials before it is widely available.?

Encouraging news though Healerman and well found.

[Hyrulian Outlaw]

Grow your own kidney, grow your own liver..... now if only someone would invent away to stop hangovers

Promising news though, I remember a program (something about a genetic farm) that had sheep with human organs growing in them, so in effect you could have any organ you needed already inside an animal. May cause a problem for vegetarians, but given the choice between death and a dead sheep I know what i'd choose.

It also had some stuff about growing ears and noses from our own cells using a polymer frame that would dissolve later in the cycle, good for people who suffer disfugurments from accidents etc.

[Shadowwolf]

Whichever is first hardly matters, either would be a boon for those who require constant dialysis.