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Omni-SciencePosted: Jul 29, 2010 - 07:26
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I'm very interested in developing highly functional replacement limbs and organs.

A friend of mine wants to use more cybernetic techniques (artificial muscle, neuron to radio wave to radio wave receiver, titanium bone etc.)

My idea is a bit more Sci Fi.

I'm trying figure out how to grow organic replacement limbs and organs and surgically attaching them.

It's a little pseudo competition between us (but hey, we're young, and have the grades and love of science and medicine to dream big).

Discuss, and would be very happy for ideas and constructive criticisms.

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CyborgJesusPosted: Jul 29, 2010 - 07:34
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Possibly greatest industry in the next 3-4 decades, but incredibly expensive to jump into. I still dream about doing something in that area, but it's so far away, I can't seriously discuss it.

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Omni-SciencePosted: Jul 29, 2010 - 07:38
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In a perfect world, everyone could get it when they needed to.

However, it's the poorer working class that have the most need for this kind of treatment.

My goal, (aside from being a professional physician as well), is to successfully replace limbs and organs in my professional career, or at least give my two cents to get us closer, and hope my successors make it cheaper.

We can already grow replacement bladders for people, but then again, it's a very simple organ.

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Edward L WinstonPosted: Jul 29, 2010 - 12:00
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I can't wait to apply to be a repoman.

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Omni-SciencePosted: Jul 29, 2010 - 12:07
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XP

I was thinking about using a vat filled with the various raw building materials to create the specific body part the patients needs.

Use their DNA and activate certain parts of it while suppressing others to ensure growth of desired body part.

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Kaiser FalknerPosted: Jul 29, 2010 - 12:27
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they have grown ears on the backs of mice. It's weird.

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Omni-SciencePosted: Jul 29, 2010 - 12:30
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So rodents are used to grow body parts....

Perhaps a Capybara for a leg then?

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Kaiser FalknerPosted: Jul 29, 2010 - 12:39
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Yeah, I have a problem with mutating animals that way. There has been an effort to create artificial wombs where undifferentiated cells can be grown into the necessary body part. The whole thing is super messed up. But if you want a more fucked up way to do things, read the book "Never Let Me Go."

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Omni-SciencePosted: Jul 29, 2010 - 13:03
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I'm just kidding XD

My plan doesn't require stem cells, only sample tissue from the patient.

(i.e sample tissue from leg to make new one)

I'd like to avoid crossing ethical boundries... :/

Can't you just get stem cells from the umbilical cord as well?

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Kaiser FalknerPosted: Jul 29, 2010 - 13:24
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"sample tissue from the patient"

I think the problem is that getting those cells to replace the missing parts is nearly impossible. We can't get epidermal growth factor to influence differntiated cells into rapid regeneration. You'd also need all the cell types in a limb (nerve, bone, vascular, etc) in order to get it to generate and generate completely. I think emrbyonic or undifferentiated cells are the main focus in the field right now.

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Omni-SciencePosted: Jul 29, 2010 - 13:38
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What about developing the body part by mimicking fetal development?

:/ Than I would need stem cells, but tissue from the patient could work as well.

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TychoPosted: Aug 28, 2010 - 19:09
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Wow, you ARE thinking big.

One problem that comes to mind with limbs is that neurons may die when they lose connections (say for example if you lose your hand, some neurons that connected to the hand will die even when you still have them in your body), then again if you can grow a whole limb in a tube, that can't be a problem. It may also be that that we will sooner be igniting limb regrowth than outright limb generation from scratch in a tube. Or that we will first be seeing metallic/plastic limbs controlled via implants in your brain's motor cortex.

What I think you want is both cells that are poorly differentiated and the means for directing their growth and differentiation into whatever tissue you want. That's very difficult.

We do know many sources of poorly differentiated cells (stem cells), sadly they mostly come from embryos (not that they have any feelings or nervous system at those stages, but yeah, it's morally gray at best). Adults do have many sources too, the problem is that they are not as undifferentiated and thus not as malleable as those from embryos. While, in principle, you can redirect an embryonic stem cell to any tissue, or at least a (very) wide variety of tissues, an adult stem cell may only render a few specific and closely related types of cells. That said we do know something about bringing an adult stem cell to an "earlier" less differentiated, and thus more malleable, state. You don't really need leg tissue to regrow a leg, hair follicle stem cells have been used to regenerate nerve tissue for example, some progenitor blood cells can also be redifferentiated into limited neural precursors.

We know a LOT in regards to molecules and signals that make cells develop one way or another during fetal development. In principle we could try replicate those signals with the specific types of adult stem cells you harvested in order to direct them into specific tissues. The thing is that it's far toooooooooo complex. The amount of signals and information cells interchange during development is huge, that means we don't know everything about it and that replicating it artificially can be very, very difficult.

To be honest a limb seems too complex and difficult to me. Organs may be easier, specially when we have organs which retain ability to regenerate. So may want to start there, heh.

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Edward L WinstonPosted: Aug 28, 2010 - 20:31
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Oh my god, Tycho, I'm so fucking sorry, I completely got wrapped up in other things a while back and forgot about your translation! I feel really bad about that, I'll get that up next chance I get.

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Omni-SciencePosted: Sep 02, 2010 - 17:56
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I see your point Tycho...

Well, looks like my work is cut out for me (no pun intended).

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EdPosted: Sep 02, 2010 - 18:12
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If it was safe, I would be bang on the whole bio tech enhancements.

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