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Researchers Create Living Human Gut-On-a-Chip

Posted by timothy on from the waiting-for-the-snl-sketch dept.

cylonlover writes "In an effort to provide a more accurate alternative to conventional cell culture and animal models, researchers at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University have developed a microdevice that mimics the structure, physiology, and mechanics of the human intestine. The so-called 'gut-on-a-chip' could help provide new insights into intestinal disorders and be used to evaluate the safety and efficacy of potential treatments."

22 comments

  1. Welcome by Sparrow1492 · · Score: 1

    I for one would like to welcome our new cyborg intestine ovelords.

    1. Re:Welcome by rgbatduke · · Score: 1

      And first post too! Impressive!

      --
      Even when the experts all agree, they may well be mistaken. --- Bertrand Russell.
    2. Re:Welcome by ae1294 · · Score: 1

      And first post too! Impressive!

      Good, good... Your NerdRage has made you strong! Now strike him down and take your rightful place beside me young Sky-walker! Together we shall rule the meme's and crush all who troll before us.

  2. Pfffffffrrrt by Nursie · · Score: 2

    This is just the latest iteration of the high-tech fart joke, isn't it?

    1. Re:Pfffffffrrrt by houstonbofh · · Score: 1

      My first though was a 7 layer dip I had a while back that raced through my system like a teenager in the parking lot after "Fast 5."

  3. Next... by c0lo · · Score: 1

    ... the "e.coli-on-a-chip"... can't have a good gut model without the symbiotic gut flora, can they?

    --
    Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
    1. Re:Next... by ae1294 · · Score: 1

      What I want to know is what would happen if I eat these chips? Would I have many smaller guts inside my gut? What sort of power would that bestow?

    2. Re:Next... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What I want to know is what would happen if I eat these chips?

      You grow fat... maybe develop type-2 diabetes.

  4. Let me know when they full-scale versions.. by dexotaku · · Score: 1

    Let me know when they've got a full-scale version. Replacing my digestive tract [or parts of it] with one[s] that actually work[s] would be nice. =B

    1. Re:Let me know when they full-scale versions.. by Vernes · · Score: 1

      I for one would welcome a modular digestive system.
      Celiac disease, Crohn's disease are just 2 of many afflictions where science still have to find a real solution for.
      Just replacing a gut would be awesome, tailor made to be ignored by your immune system.

  5. That's nothing by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 4, Funny

    They built a gut on a chip? That's nothing... I built my gut on chips back in the 90's.

    The real challenge was laying off the chips to make the gut shrink again.

    --
    "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    1. Re:That's nothing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      in re: laying off that bag of chips. What you could do instead of paying $3 for a "family size" bag of chips and then snarfing it while watching the big bang theory, is pay $3 for a bag of salad mix--I buy the baby spinach one.

      Yes, it's not as tasty as the chips, but you really only eat the first 2 ounces of chips for the flavor, and the other 28 ounces out of boredom or inertia.

      Or instead of paying $3 for a bag of chips you can pay $3 for a bag of salad mix and throw it away. Let's be realistic, you're not going to eat the salad anyway.

  6. Virus? by aglider · · Score: 1

    Can this device catch any ... virus? I think so, even if of a different type!

    --
    Sent as ripples into the electromagnetic field. No single photon has been harmed in the process.
    1. Re:Virus? by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 1

      It could probably catch a stomache bug.

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
  7. Stop thinking here... and start thinking HERE. by Sneftel · · Score: 3, Funny

    Forget "brain-on-a-chip" neural simulation FPGAs... The new hotness is "gut feeling"-based reasoning.

    --
    The opinions stated herein do not necessarily represent those of anybody at all. Deal with it.
  8. Microbiome research by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Human microbiome project has shown us that we only had about 1% of the information when it comes gut bacteria bugs because 99% are not culturable. The cataloging of the majority is done by DNA analysis but we have no idea for the most part how they interact with each other and with the host.
    Hopefully this will give more insight into the human microbiome in action, the bugs in the gut and their composition govern everything in the human body, from the assimilation of nutrients to immunity and they have been ignored for a long long time until some recent proof of concept studies http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111031114945.htm .

  9. SECURITY ALERT! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Gut on a chip has a backdoor. Buffer overload the colon...

  10. This just emulates that old saying... by cvtan · · Score: 1

    GIGO

    --
    Sorry, but gray text on gray background is making my eyes bleed.
  11. Sony guts. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Zohan for the win!!!

  12. Wow by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 2

    No shit?
    .
    .
    .
    No, seriously; is there any?

  13. The real use for this technology by MrBippers · · Score: 1

    Summary and TFA seem to skim over the main area where this technology will likely see application--in looking at drug permeability and transport across the intestinal membrane. This is something that gets examined for EVERY orally administered drug and right now this is done primarily with cell culture monolayers of intestinal cells. This model allows for the addition of peristaltic forces and other stressors to give a more physiologically relevant system.