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| (Photo by LHOON) |
If your nose runs and your feet smell, it might be because you've ordered the wrong body parts from the "factory."
Although this sounds like a joke, it might actually portend future choices. The London AP
reports that UK scientists are already hard at work "growing noses, ears and blood
vessels in the laboratory in a bold attempt to make body parts using stem cells."
For those who are feeling somewhat uncomfortable with this notion, rest assured. According to
lead scientist Alexander Seifalian: It's like making a cake. We just use a different kind of oven.
Okay (?), so how does one go about "baking" a human spare part? First off, the part must be matched to the rest of the (live) body it's intended for. If we're talking
noses, then it must also somewhat resemble a God-grown proboscis.
This is accomplished by adding a dash of sugar and salt to a polymer nose-shaped mold. The
"seasoning"
helps to provide a "sponge-like texture" to the mix.
Stem cells that were grown from the recipient's own fat are then used to pad the outer layer. This up-and-coming nose is then implanted into the patient's arm so that skin can "grow to cover it."
There now – that was easy.
And who "nose" what's next?
Resources
http://news.yahoo.com/uk-scientists-body-parts-lab-090423441.html
Copyright April 9, 2014 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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