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'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.

3 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.
  2. 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 */
  3. 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...