Another step toward growing human hearts
Scientists have perfected a technique to replicate the cellular "scaffolding" of complex organs.
The bad news: Remember that picture of the mouse with a human ear on its back? It was reported that scientists "grew" that ear there. Well, they didn't. They got the mouse to grow skin over a molded ear form. So much for truth in advertising.
The good news: Scientists are getting closer to being able to build complex organs such as a human heart. Apparently, they've mastered a process called "decellularization": certain parts of a cell are isolated and re-grown into a new, functioning organ.
It's said to be another step toward effective human organ replacement. Read more on Ars technica: Growing new hearts from old ones