Scientists have been able to artificially produce simple organs since the 1960s, but now they've taken on the most complex one, with the quest to build a heart. Researchers see a multibillion-dollar market developing for heart parts that could repair diseased hearts and clogged arteries.
The spur in lab-grown organs is taking places because of a lack in organ donors and a rise in demand for transplants. These organs, built with patients' own cells, will also be a better alternative for transplant patients because they won't have to take anti-rejection medication for the rest of their lives.
NOS Themes:
Science is collaborative
Role of repeatability
Role of motivation and curiosity
Cassidy Lee, Hour 1
This concept is crazy! The thought of being able to replicate human organs at minimal cost is amazing. Also, the fact that the patients wouldn't have to take anti-rejection medication makes this alternative all the more appealing. If researchers were able to create a stable artificial heart, the rate of survival of countless diseases would skyrocket.
ReplyDeleteOne question I have is:
How much testing is done on an artificial organ before it is implemented into the medical field for transplants?
Here is an article for further research:
http://news.discovery.com/tech/biotechnology/stem-cell-complex-body-parts-121017.htm
This is amazing! Creating an artificial heart would be very beneficial to many people who suffer from heart problems. I think another theme of science is that science is tentative. With that in mind, it is not yet certain that scientists will successfully build an artificial heart. The artificial heart's functioning capacity and limits are not yet defined and could change.
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