Slashdot Mirror
Scientists Grow Replacement Human Teeth In Mouse Kidneys
sciencehabit writes "When an adult loses a tooth, there's no hope of growing a new one—unless you've got a mouse kidney handy. In a new study, researchers injected human gum tissue extracted during oral surgery into the molars of fetal mice. After giving the cells a week to get used to each other, the scientists implanted the chimeric concoction into the protective tissue surrounding the kidneys of living mice. There, 20% of the cells developed into objects recognizable as teeth, complete with the root structures missing from artificial tooth implants. The next step is to transplant these so-called 'bio-teeth' back into human mouths and see if they grow into something that we can chew on—or rather, with."
No need to worry about how gross that sounds, they wash them before putting them in, using a special sterilizing soap grown from a rat's testicles.
let me be the first to state that the editors are all incompetent and the quality of comments on /. is execrable
This posting is provided 'AS IS' without warranty of any kind, implied or otherwise.
As tempting as putting something in my mouth grown from a mouse's kidney sounds, I'll just take a crown or some bridgework, thanks.
that's the first thing I thought of..
They would find it much more lucrative if they could figure out a way to grow replacement KIDNEYS.
So-called "bio-teeth" ...as opposed to WHAT?
It sounds good but the instruction was to grow human kidneys in rats teeth. It was a real Do'h moment when the researcher reread his brief!
So they take tissue out of your mouth, put it in a mouse, then grow the tooth. Why not just grow the tooth in your own mouth?
First reaction: cool. Really interesting seeing where the capability is going. Seems like we get an article like this every few weeks. Baby steps towards doing things to help people out that even science fiction could not predict.
Second reaction: It's gotta suck being a mouse.
Funny enough, they did do just that a couple years ago. Doesn't seem like anything came from it.
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-05/new-technique-uses-bodys-stem-cells-regenerate-teeth
Sucks to be that rat when it comes time to harvest those teeth...
Now, NOTHING can stand against us!
Crown us King of the Earth and the SEAS!
P.S. I already know humans kill more sharks than sharks kill humans. But darn it, they smiled too much when we kill them. Now we can do it BACK.
excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
bite the hand that feeds them?
Please do not read this sig. Thank you.
I am a dentist One of the benefits cited in the fine article is that the kidney-grown tooth structures more closely resemble a real tooth with a physical root. The root system of a tooth is much more complex than just its physical shape. Within a tooth socket, you have the periodontal ligament surrounding the root separating the jaw bone from the root. Then you have the root itself with cementum layer, dentin layer, then pulp. Even if we were to be able to grow a tooth outside the mouth, it doesn't mean all the necessary structures are there. When transplanting a grown tooth, you're faced with several obstacles: 1) Bone socket must be created to the exactly fit the tooth 2) Creating the periodontal ligament to provide cushion, natural tooth movements, and the ability to extract that tooth without it fusing to the bone 3) The pulp tissue needs to be connected somehow to the nerve and blood systems, otherwise you would have to do a root canal to remove the pulp 4) The morphology of the crown portion above the gum needs to be correct, meaning the tooth needs a crown So, while being able to induce cells to grown into something that looks like a tooth is a step forward, at this point it is far from a viable treatment option versus a titanium implant which has a known shape/diameter/length. The golden ticket is when we can induce mesenchymal stem cells to grow into a tooth directly in the jaw (hopefully with the correct morphology due to its position next to adjacent teeth as well).
My wife has a "Dermoid Cyst", which is a benign tumor on one of her ovaries. It's filled with skin, hair, and teeth. That's right. Fully developed adult human teeth. Molars, actually. Often they're discovered when the teeth show up on an abdominal x-ray.
It's simultaneously very fascinating and very creepy. Google image search for "dermoid cyst". The human body is a weird thing.
What the fuck is wrong with these people? Sure, it's cool, interesting, revolutionary, but FUCK! Who the fucking fuck woke up one morning and thought "I'm going to grow human teeth in mouse kidneys!"
Would the teeth be considered less disgusting if they were grown in a cow's buttocks? Besides, plenty of people in western culture eat kidneys already. Your steak and kidney pie will probably taste better coming off of a fork with teeth than coming out of a straw.
They're still using stem cells. It would be much greater to find the solution or protein that triggers your body to just produce a new set of teeth.
The end of the article source is pretty depressing. 10-15 years away from human trials. They said that 10-15 years ago. I've been watching this research for a long time, as I was one of those kids that lived on mt. Dew soda. Ugh! I was particularly excited when they released a treatment for gum tissue repair this year.
Captcha: puppies
I guess the same thing that happened to the techniques to restore your eyesight.
Never trust a person who makes a living off of you staying sick and helpless.
Don't complain about syntax, grammar, or spelling. There is no.hell like input on android.
PETA should be all over this! Imagine passing a molar through your tiny mouse urethra!
Slashdot's rate-of-post filter: Preventing you from posting too many great ideas at once.
Calm Down Al... drink your warm spider milk. It will help calm your nerves.
I only look human.
My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling
When you realize you're not reading an "April Fools'" headline... Seriously, this looks like a story you'd see on The Onion, not SienceMag. We live in interesting times, indeed.
XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve your problem, you're not using enough of it. --AC
As someone who has suffered from kidney stones in the past, I can't imagine the pain caused by friggin' **TEETH** growing there.
Is there some wonderful magical quality about mouse kidneys as opposed to some other less nerve-infused part of their body? Because those mice had to be in agony.
If teeth is a cosmetic product, then it is going to work in EU - http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/11/business/global/eu-to-ban-cosmetics-with-animal-tested-ingredients.html . But unfortunately, it is not cosmetic except for insurance purposes. So the mice will have to endure this humans digging for tooth.
Human teeth from mouse kidneys. Because why the hell not? Next week, we'll start on our project to make alligator spleens from parrot intestines. Time permitting, there's always the cheetah-bones-from-elephant-skin plan or the one where we make dog fur from jellyfish stingers. If we get enough funding, we might be able to complete our magnum opus, recreating the heart of a triceratops from the colon of a neanderthal!
Demanding constant attention will only lead to attention.
What a painful stone that would be to pass.
/* No Comment */
And so is dressing and acting as a mouse. Squeak.
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
Ouch, talk about a nasty kidney stone...
Puts a new twist on grandpa's: "Has anyone seen my teeth?"
"Relax, grandpa, they're right here in these mice kidneys. Just try to remember not to soak the mice in Efferdent overnight. This one's still foaming at the mouth."
Vagina Dentata! What a wonderful phrase
Vagina DentataI Ain't no passing craze
It means no worries for the rest of your days
It's our problem-free philosophy
Vagina Dentata!
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
... I see that none of you can even begin to imagine the pain and suffering of those animals.
When do you plan on becoming adults?
Try the liver.
I'll be here all week.
I just don't want rat kidneys then growing in my mouth.
For real this time.
Did this not pan out or something?
"Powers. I have them."
hit in the mouth with a baseball bat at the age of 7, my left front tooth has had at least 7 or 8 replacements. the current one has been there for 17 years, there is a crack on the porcelain on one side... teeth, skin, hair, gums.... things you couldnt buy... so fracking excited that we are getting brand new teeth before i am too old to pretend i am young
Really I don't care where the teeth came from, I would love to have all my missing ones replaced by the real thing. What's wrong with cheese anyway?