This is truly an amazing world, but it hasn't happened yet. Between various ways of producing IPS cells and technology, we'll be printing organs at some point. We're probably already there for:
- Skin — http://www.digitaltr...air-and-sweats/
- Bladders, Vaginas — Atala did this eons ago; not with printing, but it worked. http://www.scientifi...in-4-teenagers/ & http://www.nature.com/news/2006/060403/full/news060403-3.html
- Bone — http://www.nytimes.c...-pigs.html?_r=0
The question is when will this stuff hit the market, and when will we be able to fab more complex organs like kidneys and I don't know ... livers, prostates, and heck, even penises. A Russian group did a thyroid: https://www.rt.com/n...rinted-thyroid/
The father of this technology actually did create a rabbit penis or 2: https://www.theguard...atala-interview
The rabbits went on to procreate!
A few other questions:
- How long are the telomeres in these tissues?
- Will it thus directly extend life?
There's a revolution, but when? Anyone care to guess?
Edited by Logjam, 04 July 2016 - 11:12 PM.