Researchers engineer miniature human livers in the lab

[DavidDvorkin]

Researchers at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center have reached an early, but important, milestone in the quest to grow replacement livers in the lab. They are the first to use human liver cells to successfully engineer miniature livers that function – at least in a laboratory setting – like human livers. The next step is to see if the livers will continue to function after transplantation in an animal model.

The ultimate goal of the research, which will be presented Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in Boston, is to provide a solution to the shortage of donor livers available for patients who need transplants. Laboratory-engineered livers could also be used to test the safety of new drugs.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-10/wfub-rem102710.php

Very big news, indeed!

[aquart]

1. Yes!

Outstanding news.

[thunder rising]

2. pfffft...this is back-bench research, a trivial matter compaired fully functional human brains

in mice.

[DavidDvorkin]

5. There's a scary image!

[dflprincess]

15. And all these years I thought Pinky & the Brain was just a cartoon

[HopeHoops]

3. Hey, grind them up, press them in a mold back into the shape of a liver and - McLiver Nuggets!

They'll be the special feature in the new "Unhappy Meal" with a free toy spleen in every one!

[petronius]

12. I did wonder when I read this, what will come first: the first lab-grown organ transplant,

or the first lab-grown 'cannibal' restaurant?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

4. I'll drink to that.

:beer:

[DavidDvorkin]

6. Needs a kick.

[cliffordu]

7. Miniature alcoholics everywhere rejoice....

[DavidDvorkin]

8. Well, they're tired of being overlooked.

[cliffordu]

9. lol...

:rofl:

[Recovered Repug]

13. Come on, I'm sure we've all been a little drunk.

[Odin2005]

10. The technophobes are gonna go balistic.

"How dare you play god!!!" :eyes:

My response? We aren't "playing" God, we ARE God! BWAHAHABHAHA!!! :evilgrin:

[DavidDvorkin]

11. We are ever more godlike

There are no gods, but eventually there will be. Soon, I hope.

[Odin2005]

14. The Singularity is near!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity

[DavidDvorkin]

16. I've been counting on it for a while

I'm getting old, so it needs to hurry along.