Printing Stem-Cells

[INRM]

I would reactivate the old thread, but I remember hearing of some concept which enabled stem-cells to be "printed" using some kind of 3D Printer technology like stuff.

The stem-cells could be coaxed into growing into meat and bone to make artificial meat.

Were the stem-cells actually printed out molecule by molecule including the organelles, the cytoplasm, the nucleus and DNA?


INRM

[paximperium]

No. They are printed cell by cell.

[Evilgiraffe]

Were the stem-cells actually printed out molecule by molecule including the organelles, the cytoplasm, the nucleus and DNA?


Without a link it's difficult to be sure but I think you're talking about this story (http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10771-bioink-printer-makes-stem-cells-differentiate.html).

The answer to your question is no, the stem cells were not built up molecule by molecule.


"Julie Phillippi at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania, US, and colleagues have demonstrated a novel bio-ink printer that directs a population of muscle-derived stem cells from adult mice to differentiate into both muscle and bone tissue. It is the first such system to grow multiple tissues from a single population of adult stem cells, the researchers say.

The technique works by firing various patterns of different growth factor proteins onto the stem cells. By tweaking the spatial patterning of the doses, using different print-heads to deliver various concentrations of the protein "bio-ink", the cells can be directed to differentiate into different tissue types, says Phillippi."

ETA - what pax said

[INRM]

So it just spits out the stem cells out?

[GodMark2]

It's more "printing ON stem cells".

They have a petri dish of stem cells, and 'print' different chemical messengers on it that tell the stem cells what to grow into. This way they can have the same dish of stem cells produce multiple types of final cells, in whatever pattern they choose. Before, all they could do was wash the whole dish in the messenger bath, and all the stem cells would turn into the same type of end cell.

[INRM]

Oh.....

Well that sounds pretty interesting...

[theprestige]

Oh.....

Well that sounds pretty interesting...
Aren't you worried about the possibility that the military might use this to grow artificial cyber-bears with built-in RFID tags that could be use to spy on private phone calls and look up all your info on the world wide web as part of a secret clause of ACTA II?

[Evilgiraffe]

Oh.....

Well that sounds pretty interesting...

What did you expect?

Mad scientists cackling in their labs while assembling an army of minions cell by cell?

I'm afraid science in the real world is rather more prosaic than the media like to make out.

[INRM]

ThePrestige,

Why would you use bears to spy on phone calls? That makes no sense.

[theprestige]

ThePrestige,

Why would you use bears to spy on phone calls? That makes no sense.
Because bears are AWSOME. Especially cyborg bears with built-in cell phone spying equipment. Maybe they could also have built-in equipment to control flying robo-snipers. That would be even more awsome.

[Soapy Sam]

awesome.

Two "e"s.

awful- no "e"s.

Whether bears are awesome or awful is a matter of opinion and whether or not they want into your tent.

[theprestige]

awesome.

Two "e"s.

awful- no "e"s.

Whether bears are awesome or awful is a matter of opinion and whether or not they want into your tent.
Or your cell phone traffic.

[the_smasher]

Aren't you worried about the possibility that the military might use this to grow artificial cyber-bears with built-in RFID tags that could be use to spy on private phone calls and look up all your info on the world wide web as part of a secret clause of ACTA II?

This is exactly what I'm worried about. I'll send you a copy of my newsletter.

[theprestige]

This is exactly what I'm worried about. I'll send you a copy of my newsletter.
No need. My cyber-bear commandos will be there shortly to pick me up a copy. Don't bother unlocking the front door.