Scientists Grow Artificial Penis in Lab (Say what?)

Fox News ^ | 5/25/06 | Mikey_1962

[Mikey_1962]

It's now possible to replace a defective, damaged, or diseased penis with a penis grown in a laboratory -- in rabbits.

But the finding promises an amazing new treatment for infants, boys, and men who suffer penis disfigurement. The replacement organ would be grown on a penis-shaped matrix seeded with cells from the patient's own body.

Researcher Anthony Atala, MD, director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, reported the findings at this week’s annual meeting of the American Urological Association in Atlanta.

"Our goal is eventually to treat infants and adults with birth defects, penis trauma, or penis cancer," Atala tells WebMD. "But this is a future goal. We are now deciding which animal model to explore next."

While human trials are still far off, the Atala team's recent accomplishments make their goal highly credible. Atala and colleagues recently reported successfully using much the same technique to replace defective bladders in human children with spina bifida.

In the rabbit study, Atala's team removed the penises from rabbits and entirely replaced the organs with penises grown from the animal's own cells

[Mikey_1962]

But who wants to be hung like a rabbit?

[atomicpossum]

Mark Morford, call your office.

[pissant]

Coming to an advertisement in the sports pages very soon.

[chambley1]

That's the long and short of it

[bwteim]

[Zeppelin]

ok I'll hijack this thread before anyone else can... =P

Well maybe we can grow some artificial balls for our Congress! CLOSE THE BORDERS!

(hahaha, sorry yall, I had to take a shot at the hijackers!) =P

[CygnusXI]

omg... just wait til the adult novelty business gets ahold of this..

[FreePaul]

While human trials are still far off...

From a lot of the e-mails I get I think that they must already have something on the market.

[The Red Zone]

excerpt schmexcerpt. This is IT.

[Joe 6-pack]

That's the long and short of it Scientists face a stiff challenge in perfecting the procedure for humans, but are expected to rise to the challenge. Critics see the rush for this research as premature and in the words of one, 'half-cocked.'

[rintense]

But who wants to be hung like a rabbit?

[MAD-AS-HELL]

Bill Clinton must be very happy right now. He no longer has to fear Hillary cutting his curved pecker off.

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

ping a ling a "ding dong"

[Red Badger]

What's Up, Doc?.........

[RichInOC]

The Democrats were already doing this in bulk to raise their membership, in case you hadn't noticed.

(Okay, that was my first thought. Then I actually read your comment....)

But who wants to be hung like a rabbit?

:-D )))

[Roccus]

Is it true that the funding for this research came from NOW?

[Little Ray]

Heck, as many pricks as there are in Academia, why grow new ones in the lab?

[NRA2BFree]

But who wants to be hung like a rabbit?

Frist?

[Comstock1]

While the work will be hard, and the competition stiff, this will be a growth industry.

[Ron in Acreage]

Will they want to breed like rabbits now?