Livers grown in the laboratory could eventually solve organ transplant shortage

Telegraph [UK] ^ | 10/31/10 | Richard Alleyne

[Nachum]

The researchers created "working livers" the size of a walnut which functioned normally in laboratory conditions. They believe that in around five years they will be able to upscale the process and transfer the procedure from laboratory to hospital. The development could eventually solve the transplant shortage and also remove the need for powerful drugs to prevent the body rejecting the organ. "We are excited about the possibilities this research represents, but must stress that we're at an early stage and many technical hurdles must be overcome before it could benefit patients," said the project director, Associate Professor Shay Soker

[Undocumented_capitalist]

Wonders of modern science never cease!

[cryptical]

Faster, please. (to quote Instapundit)

[mmercier]

I hope this technology works out before Dr. G sends mine to the Smithsonian.

[dljordan]

I’ll take two.

[BenKenobi]

Victory for stem cells. Just think, we’d have stem cell banks like we have blood banks.

[GeronL]

Governments do NOT want to solve the shortage. That would mean a ton of new expensive transplant surgeries.

[sodpoodle]

I just envisioned raising up a herd of livers and thinking:

Like a renal cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Like a renal cowboy
Getting cards and letters from people I don’t even know
And offers comin’ over the phone

I’m sorry;( but it just sat there in my head.

[KarlInOhio]

Under Obamacare, the nation's entire production of synthetic livers will be reserved for the Kennedy family.

[mmercier]

These things are inevitable.

Technology never ceases its exponential growth.

Luddites may differ in opine about the benefits of such growth, but the fact remains.

[mmercier]

In a decade most surgery as we today recognize it will be obsolete.

We will grow new pieces and parts within the body with biotechnology that today can only be equated to the germination of a seed in the dirt.

There are people so far ahead of the population in general that they can not even look back and see us.

Some things are inevitable, based on past innovation.

[SAJ]

Only for a short time.

"The work that requires genius today requires only the skill of a tinsmith in 10 years' time." -- (believe it or not) Bertrand Russell

Once developed, the pricing curve on this technology will head remarkably lower, remarkably quickly. Well, if goobermint LETS it do so...

[Beagle8U]

I’ll drink to that!

[Vendome]

Won’t matter if your life is deemed worthless by the government.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

In a decade most surgery as we today recognize it will be obsolete.

While you're undoubtedly right about the outcome, I think it'll take a lot longer than a decade. Innovation in medical science faces resistance and obstacles in the form of over-regulation (the FDA), ethical concerns, and liability concerns that the computer and electronics fields never have to deal with.

[MinorityRepublican]

Charlie Sheen’s in luck!

[RobinOfKingston]

Just in time to not be affordable.

[GeronL]

I think we might all have devices in our house to grow our own food without the plant. Growing apples or bananas or whatever without the rest of the plant/tree.

How cool would that be?