Heart valve grown from stem cells

[babylonsister]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6516885.stm

Heart valve grown from stem cells

Entire organs could be grown from stem cells
British scientists have grown part of a human heart from stem cells for the first time.

Heart surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub, who led the team, said doctors could be using artificially grown heart components in transplants within three years.

His researchers at Harefield hospital managed to grow tissue that works in the same way as human heart valves.

Sir Magdi told the Guardian newspaper a whole heart could be produced from stem cells within 10 years.

'Common pathway'

The team who spent 10 years working on the project included physicists, pharmacologists, clinicians and cellular scientists.


You can see the common pathway of death and suffering is heart failure
Sir Magdi Yacoub
Researchers will see their achievement as a major step towards growing entire organs for transplant.

Stem cells have the potential to turn into many different types of cell.

Many scientists believe it should be possible to harness the cells' ability to grow into different tissues to repair damage and treat disease.

Previously, scientists have grown tendons, cartilages and bladders, which are all less complex.

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