Stem cell scientists grow liver
 

Stem cell scientists grow liver


THE world's first artificial human liver has been grown by UK scientists.

Experts used stem cells from umbilical cords to produce a tiny version of the body's largest internal organ.

Researchers believe the mini-liver could be used to test new drugs, ending the need for animal testing and clinical trials using human volunteers.

And they reckon that within a decade, they will be able to grow full-sized livers to use in transplants.

The mini-liver has been produced by Dr Nico Forraz and Professor Colin McGuckin from Newcastle University.

Dr Forraz said: "We have taken a little bit of umbilical cord blood, and then it is all about enhancing things that already exist.

"We cannot build a fullsized liver yet. That will take about 10 years. But this is the first important step.

"We expect this to really take off in the next 18 months or so.

"Our long-term aim is to start manufacturing, which will create many jobs. Once we get started our customer base will be truly global."

The two scientists have formed a company called ConoStem to market their discovery.

They are being supported by the Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences, a funding body who back biotechnology projects in north-east England.

Mike Asher, chief executive of the Centre of Excellence, said: "We are very excited about the work they are doing.

"It shows that we are starting to understand the world of stem cells and can manipulate them.

"Biotechnology is moving forward at an incredible rate. A whole range of possibilities are opening up which we would not have even dreamed about a decade ago."

Stem cells are the body's "building blocks" - undeveloped cells which scientists are starting to "programme" to produce different kinds of tissue.

Experts believe the cells could eventually be used to cure a host of diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

But some religious groups object to the research because many stem cells used by scientists are taken from young human embryos. The embryos have to be destroyed in the process.


http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm...name_page.html

Thats good news - I think I may need one after last night.....

That's great news. Finding a liver donor is hard enough in the US/UK, it's 10x harder in China, the Philippines, and other Asian countries. Hopefully, full organ replication in the lab will finally help breach the fatal barrier of cultural taboos.

This story is a classic example of how 'real' papers deal with news and how papers like The Sun deal with news.

The headline from The Scotsman: "First liver grown from stem cells offers hope for transplant patients"

The headline from The Sun: "Brit boffins grow human liver"

Shot o Clock!!

stem cell research is the new exciting medical fronteer:2 cents: :thumbsup

Great news! This is the hope for the future for many people

I still wouldn't trust all those stem researches.

and why would that be?

Because only a year ago experiments with stems led to straing results like teeth in a liver and so on.
People implanted stems to their face to become young and actually became ugly.
At that time scientics were saying that sterms can cause unexpectable results.

great news for sure. amazing what stem cell research could lead to.

Hope that you can get a new president that will allow stem cell research in the US soon.

well it is early days..these guys aren't putting a liver into somebody today

Yeah, I'd like for them to test that shit out a little more before I put an artificial organ in my body. Look how long they've had breast implants for, and how much they fuck up, and all they have to do is be tits.

Stem cell research is allowed here. Government funding for embryonic stem cell research is limited. The article posted above is about a liver grown without using embryonic stem cells there should be no dispute about that.

All good stuff...
maybe one day the UK animal right's nuts will retire....

Simply amazing... another step in the right direction! :)

I am for stem cell research 100% - see bottom line of sig for the reason why

I agree, but the problem with stem cells from umbilical cords is that they are not pluripotent stem cells - ie they cannot give rise to any and every cell in your body - they are already programmed to go down a specific route.

The benefit of embryonic stem cells is that you can programme the cells to go down whatever path you choose (or at least in theory)... it's like writing an entire Google SE program to index the web, then saying, ah actually I need to rewrite that to index not only the web, but also all books ever published. Then changing and rewriting to index everything ever published.... it's always doing the same thing, but you keep up another branch. Much better is to start from the top and descend...., like index EVERYTHING ot start with, then filtering the branches later....


---edit
that is in no way meant to detract from that excellent bit of research !

Nice post.

Just to clarify, my post wasn't meant to be an arguement for or against embryonic stem cell research. Just pointing out that this type of stem cell research isn't being challenged.

Yup, you're right and it's important to understand the differences. Lots of work is being doing on haematopoitic stem cells to treat leukaemias. Stem cells are the key, but pluripotent stem cells are the Holy Grail, so to speak.

That's amazing, good stuff

I think a few people may not have actually read the article. The first goal is to have a liver that can be used for testing drugs. Then possibly, when everything has been well-tested, they hope they may be able to grow livers for transplants. Things are being done methodically. You won't see people's livers chewing their way to freedom.

Besides, if my choice is between dying from a bad liver and lack of a donor, or getting a liver that could possibly grow teeth... I'll take my chances with the liver.

at this rate order me 2 please!

well thats great fucking news :thumbsup :)

I hope it saves lives

Mr. Romance

mini-liver? nice, fried with peri-peri, yum

Hell, I grew one before I was even born. Where's MY prize?

I can see it now. The pope telling the catholics of the world that a liver created from stems cells is a real living being. Forget the fact that it hasn't a brain...then, what religious zealot has.

not to surprising

The liver is the only human organ that can regenerate its self so if they were to grow one they would only need a small sample I would think to do it.

I wouldn't take this as a sign to start uncontrolled drinking. Even if they can reproduce livers in 10 years, transplants will still be expensive and risky.

that is good to know!

Yeah but I still wouldn't have a clue how to do it so I tip my hat to them.

[QUOTE]People implanted stems to their face to become young and actually became ugly. [QUOTE]

they won't when they're your own cells.:)
http://www.cytoritx.com/about/

and to top it off, they're derived from something you don't want...fat.:thumbsup

heheheh synthetic foie gras might not be too far behind.

its amazing the medical technology other countries will have but because we are run by religous fanatics we will never get.