Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

'Bionic' Nerve To Repair Damaged Limbs and Organs

Posted by samzenpus on from the we-will-rebuild-him dept.

University of Manchester researchers have transformed fat tissue stem cells into nerve cells -- and now plan to develop an artificial nerve that will bring damaged limbs and organs back to life. In a study published in October's Experimental Neurology, Dr Paul Kingham and his team at the UK Centre for Tissue Regeneration (UKCTR) isolated the stem cells from the fat tissue of adult animals and differentiated them into nerve cells to be used for repair and regeneration of injured nerves. They are now about to start a trial extracting stem cells from fat tissue of volunteer adult patients, in order to compare in the laboratory human and animal stem cells.

9 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. steve austin approves by User+956 · · Score: 5, Funny

    'Bionic' Nerve To Repair Damaged Limbs and Organs

    Unfortunately, it costs 6 million dollars, and makes a very distinctive sound when in use.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
    1. Re:steve austin approves by jamesh · · Score: 2, Funny

      Obviously the whole '6 million dollar man' project would be shelved in todays world. There is far more money to be made by selling penis enhancements. Imagine the spam "Impress your woman with your gigantic bionic dong".

      Of course... if there's a problem with it, do you go to a doctor or a mechanic?

    2. Re:steve austin approves by u-235-sentinel · · Score: 2, Funny

      'Bionic' Nerve To Repair Damaged Limbs and Organs

      Unfortunately, it costs 6 million dollars, and makes a very distinctive sound when in use.

      Only 6 million? Dang, we should have invested when it was cheap. I've been watching the new "Bionic Woman" and heard it's now 50 million for the Bionic parts. Inflation no doubt ;D

      --
      Has Comcast disconnected your Internet account? Same here. You can read about it at http://comcastissue.blogspot.com
  2. Re:Possible Hope For My Favorite Hobby by speaker+of+the+truth · · Score: 3, Funny

    If you can afford whatever this will cost once its patented you can afford a hooker to simply jack you off once an hour, every hour for the rest of your life.

    --
    Using openSUSE instead of Windows since 9th of October, 2007 and liking it.
  3. The nerve! by Eudial · · Score: 1, Funny

    I can't believe these people have the nerve to do such a thing!

    --
    GAAH! MY PRINTER IS ON FIRE!!! PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT!
  4. Re:You would have to do more to lift 100's of poun by pipatron · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sensors embedded in your fingers to detect certain things.

    Would be awesome to have some heat/cold sensors to be able to somehow "detect" if something is too hot or cold!

    Maybe some sort of "tactile feedback" mechanism as well so you could feel some kind of "force" if you for example come into contact with a physical object.

    --
    c++; /* this makes c bigger but returns the old value */
  5. Re:You would have to do more to lift 100's of poun by jamesh · · Score: 4, Funny

    It would also be awesome to have a device for people to detect if someone is trying to make a joke on slashdot.

    Maybe you could browse in 'humour impaired' mode (or just 'really really tired' mode), where jokes could by highlighted for users benefit...

  6. If Only... by brunes69 · · Score: 2, Funny

    If only they could come up with a Bionic Scriptwriter and Bionic Actress With Personality to save the god-awful Bionic Woman series....

    Had some high hopes for that one... what a waste.

  7. No one else bothered to say it... by s_p_oneil · · Score: 1, Funny

    It's an old and tired joke, but because it promises to "bring damaged limbs and organs back to life", it's the best post I've seen to use it with:

    I, for one, welcome our new reanimated zombie overlords.