German scientists growing skin from baby foreskins

[TZ]

No, this is not an ill-conceived sequel to an Ira Levin novel. Scientists at a laboratory in Germany have begun growing human skin from the cells of infant foreskins.
According to the German Herald, the "medical breakthrough" is being used to test cosmetics and other consumer products and could someday replace all animal testing. The so-called Skin Factory, at the Fraunhofer Institute in Stuttgart, takes foreskin cells donated to the project and uses them to grow the skin, according to spokesman Andreas Traube.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/german-scientists-growing-skin-baby-foreskins-202956126.html

Okay, generally I believe anything that can replace animal testing in labs is a good thing, but I have to admit, this kind of creeps me out....

[racaulk]

1. !!!

[TZ]

2. What?

I'm just sharing some new science...

[helderheid]

6. Oh, my

[PeaceNikki]

3. Oh. This discussion will end well.

[sharp_stick]

4. Foreskins have been used to provide

fibroblast cells for years. In the United States circumcision is so common it's a relatively simple procedure to get permission to take the foreskin for culture.

In addition the culture of endothelial cells from placenta is done fairly often.

I did some placental culture for awhile in grad school, once you get over the ick factor it's quite fascinating.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

5. Who says you can't earn a decent living working for tips? n/t

[TZ]

7. !

[sharp_stick]

10. Very well done

[Scuba]

8. Kiss me baby, anywhere will be fine.

[piratefish08]

9. smooth as a baby's foreskin just doesn't have the same ring to it.......

[Itchinjim]

11. That's just cockamamie!

[MineralMan]

12. Sounds like a cockup to me.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cockup

British slang.