Japanese Scientists Grow Teeth from Mice Tissue

Japanese researchers have successfully grown teeth from bio-engineered tissue inside the jaws of mice. Now their sights are set on laboratory-grown human organs.
Right now it may just be a new set of teeth in lab mice but scientists in Japan say a new bio-engineering technique they've developed may soon help humans regrow their lost hair.

A team led by Prof. Takashi Tsuji of Tokyo University of Science implanted bio-engineered seed-like tissues into the jaws of adult mice, which then grew to become new teeth for the grown-up rodents.

While the ultimate goal of the regenerative therapy is to develop fully functioning bio-engineered organs, for now scientists are confident this technique will work on human hair.

[Takashi Tsuji, Professor, Tokyo University of Science]:
"The most immediate application of this new method should be regrowing of hairs because they are very similar to teeth in that they grow from the surface of (the) human body."

Researchers said they've managed to develop a "bio-engineered tooth germ" - or seed, containing specific cells taken from a mouse embryo.

A little more than a month after the seeds were transplanted into the jawbones of the mice, the researchers found reproduced teeth were beginning to show, and the rodents were able to nibble with their new teeth.

[Ritsuko Morita, Researcher, Tokyo University of Science]:
"Though it's a little bit smaller than other teeth of their own, it's a fully functioning tooth."

Researchers say the bio-engineered teeth are as solid as natural adult teeth.

The reproduced teeth also come complete with nerve fibers, allowing the mice to respond to pain.

Though this therapy comes short right now of helping humans regenerate full limbs and body parts, the scientists say they will continue their research until they find a way to replace lost or damaged organs following disease, injury or aging.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• NTD
• News
• Japan
• Science
• Technology
• Teeth
• Mice
• Human organs
• automobiles
• portugese
• military
• news
• accident
• analysis
• discussion
• car
• politics
• environment
• vlog
• warfare
• commentary
• educational
• talking
• interview
• car crash
• crash

[rastarigate]

Unreal, amazing, and soooo impressive !  :D

[Jenfucius]

One day we may be able to grow our own teeth back.

Kool!

[TwilightAngel35]

OMG NEW TEETH I CAN EAT ALL THE CANDY I WANT :X:X:X:X

[AlexWondertown]

I wish people would respect science and technology more, they're amazing. Some of the comments here are pretty disappointing.

[PirateEyepatch]

These scientists are idiots. Before long, the morons are growing to grow hair in our gums and teeth on our scalps.

[1billion1deaths1]

the worlds gonna end

[dooberry20]

@anime1973 cosmology is the science of the origin and development of the universe.

[Begbucks]

Hmm just what I need for my molars.

[anime1973]

hair? who gives a shit about that. you can get that from your nutsack. We want fully functioning teeth.... Shit. Utility before cosmology. Function before form.

[swishabiz]

@hobo1958 RIGHT ON!!! lol

[hobo1958]

@swishabiz I agree, i need teeth...fuck the hair.