A major part of Science is the topic of Bioethics! Bioethics is ultimately whether a scientific discovery, method, or procedure is morally acceptable. Read the article below and comment whether or not this practice is acceptable. Please respond to one other person. It is okay to debate, but not okay to make personal attacks, use inappropriate language, or talk about inappropriate topics on this blog.
3D printer spits out human embryonic stem cells
Published February 06, 2013
| LiveScience
Imagine if you could take living cells, load them into a printer, and squirt out a 3D tissue that could develop into a kidney or a heart. Scientists are one step closer to that reality, now that they have developed the first printer for embryonic human stem cells.
In a new study, researchers from the University of Edinburgh have created a cell printer that spits out living embryonic stem cells. The printer was capable of printing uniform-size droplets of cells gently enough to keep the cells alive and maintain their ability to develop into different cell types. The new printing method could be used to make 3D human tissues for testing new drugs, grow organs, or ultimately print cells directly inside the body.
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from human embryos and can develop into any cell type in an adult person, from brain tissue to muscle to bone. This attribute makes them ideal for use in regenerative medicine — repairing, replacing and regenerating damaged cells, tissues or organs. [Stem Cells: 5 Fascinating Findings]
In a lab dish, hESCs can be placed in a solution that contains the biological cues that tell the cells to develop into specific tissue types, a process called differentiation. The process starts with the cells forming what are called "embryoid bodies."
Cell printers offer a means of producing embryoid bodies of a defined size and shape.
In the new study, the cell printer was made from a modified CNC machine (a computer-controlled machining tool) outfitted with two "bio-ink" dispensers: one containing stem cells in a nutrient-rich soup called cell medium and another containing just the medium. These embryonic stem cells were dispensed through computer-operated valves, while a microscope mounted to the printer provided a close-up view of what was being printed.
The two inks were dispensed in layers, one on top of the other to create cell droplets of varying concentration. The smallest droplets were only two nanoliters, containing roughly five cells.
The cells were printed onto a dish containing many small wells. The dish was then flipped over so the droplets now hung from them, allowing the stem cells to form clumps inside each well. (The printer lays down the cells in precisely sized droplets and in a certain pattern that is optimal for differentiation.)
Tests revealed that more than 95 percent of the cells were still alive 24 hours after being printed, suggesting they had not been killed by the printing process. More than 89 percent of the cells were still alive three days later, and also tested positive for a marker of their pluripotency — their potential to develop into different cell types.
Biomedical engineer Utkan Demirci, of Harvard University Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, has done pioneering work in printing cells, and thinks the new study is taking it in an exciting direction. "This technology could be really good for high-throughput drug testing," Demirci told LiveScience. One can build mini-tissues from the bottom up, using a repeatable, reliable method, he said. Building whole organs is the long-term goal, Demirci said, though he cautioned that it "may be quite far from where we are today."
Others have created printers for other types of cells. Demirci and colleagues made one that printed embryonic stem cells from mice. Others have printed a kind of human stem cells from connective tissues, which aren't able to develop into as many cell types as embryonic stem cells. The current study is the first to print embryonic stem cells from humans, researchers report in the Feb. 5 issue of the journal Biofabrication.
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Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/02/06/3d-printed-human-embryonic-stem-cells/print#ixzz2K81nHpY5
Science is interesting and amazing. People make things seem impossible to happen in reality .The cell print is a good example of science miracle. I am a little bit surprise when 95% of cell do not die in 24 hours while being printed. It proves how much people think and how hard they have try to invent and come up with the printer. Overall, I like this article
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting process invented. I was quite surprised something like this could actually work. I also thought it was pretty weird though, to have cells made by a printer. I kinda see this a little unsafe, but it's amazing it works.
ReplyDeleteI agree with two comments above. Printing cells seems like a very useful thing to be doing, but it also seems like there could be flaws. I do not see how this is completely safe to use. Although, it is amazing that people were able to take something to this measure. I would have never believed they can print cells. Overall, I do find it acceptable to be doing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with cplatchorre, it does seem like a good idea at first but scientist still need to examine it. It maybe good that it can survive for 3 days and still be well but how would it do within a month or a year? They know about the good part of it but what about the bad part? It does seem interesting about the cell printer but scientist need to make more test on it to see what are the side effects.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this is a completely acceptable process although it is definitely a foreign concept at this time and hard to comprehend. I agree with JoesphRamos, eventually, with much more extended research and testing, this process could very well save lives.
ReplyDeleteI think this kind of technology is amazing and really shows how advanced technology is now a days. I think although its a process that is going to need a lot of research before it can actually be an accepted medical procedure, its a pretty remarkable concept. I agree with Linh Le in the fact that this really does prove how people have try to invent things that will benefit others.
ReplyDeleteI forgot a part.. I agree with Veronica Aguirre that this shows how advanced technology is now a days. This wouldn't be able to be done a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteI found this article amazing. It's really interesting to find out what technology now a days can do and create. I'm very surprised how successful this idea has been so far. I agree with Veronica about how there will be a lot more research done before they can use it in a medical procedure, but I'm also sure one day that it will.
ReplyDeleteThis article was very interesting. i think scientists, critics, and many other people are so hesitant to accept this new technology and would rather debate whether or not it is ethical. I believe that this is a totally ethical practice to do. It is basically the future of the health field and what many envisioned it to be. I think that these major pharmaceutical companies are afraid of the loss of revenue that this new technology will bring, such as the lack of need for the medications that they provide. I agree with with Joseph, Melissa, Jennifer, and Veronica. It does seem a little skeptical and should go through further testing before widespread use. I could also see this leading to much controversy, seeing that it already can reproduce embryonic cells (which are another issue on it's own) additionally it has been said in the article that different printers have been produced to manufacture other types of cells. I think scientists are not capable of playing too much with the human anatomy before they mess up and put a bad light cell research.
ReplyDeleteI believe this was a great idea. I think there will some problems when using this ,as there problems when using other products. I think it was a good idea to make this product. I would even like to see the cell machine person.
ReplyDeleteI for got a part:I also agree with Jennifer Stout, I couldn't believe that someone could make something like this.
ReplyDeleteI found this article very hard to believe, because it seems like it would be hard to make this happen. Seriously there is a cell printer? With the technology we have today I do believe it can happen. It's amazing how one little thing can make a big difference. This must have took a lot of research to figure out 95% of the cells were still alive after 24 hours. This article was very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThis really amazes me. I do think that this is possible. Scientists are very smart, and with our technology that we have today they could make this happen! I would actually like to see this myself and see how it actually works in person. I hope nothing will go wrong with making this although there can be a lot of mistakes while doing this process. Science amazes me and i'm excited to see how the future will work with technology and science!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Malissie Henry because I can't believe this is even possible. I realize we are in the evolution of technology right now, but printing cells? If this advances even farther, who knows what we can fix or mutate because of this. Possibly in the future we can fix a disease or make organs for people on waiting lists. If this discovery pans out all the way, it could be really helpful in the science and health fields of the future.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion is somewhat similar to Jennifer Stout's. I think that it is incredible that we now have the ability to have machines replicate cells and that someday perhaps even entire organs. However, I also think that there are many dangers with this process, not to mention that it's unethical. They say that most of the cells lasted for three days, but will they be able to survive for an extended period of time? And if they are able to replicate organs, will the patient's body accept the organ? And if they advance to the point where they can print the organ inside of the patients body, what will the side effects be? Will the benefits of providing the patient with a new organ be outweighed by the risks? And having a machine creating new cells and life contradicts all laws of nature. This practice is unethical.
ReplyDeleteThis article is amusing. I was already amazed with the other article about the 3D printer and now I'm more amazed about the 3D cells printer. This technology is acceptable. This would be very helpful and save many lives. However, there would be many concerns about the dangerous obstacles that it may cause. It would probably take many years of testing before having it in the medical field. Overall, this is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteThe article was very interesting. But the hard thing to believe was that the printer was able to print cells that were able to stay alive after 24 hours. This article just shows that technology is getting better and better everyday. The technology trying to be created would be helpful in human lives to repair missing tissues in the human body.
ReplyDeleteThis article catch my attention expecially the prnting of cells that lived for a day. it is increible the amount of advancements we have done in technology to this day. this will save many lives because it mighth repair body tissue. but this advancement in science might take some years to take into effect
ReplyDeleteThis creation is unbelievable not in a million years would I have thought of creating a 3d printer. This can lower the rates of deaths if you can produce cells for 24 hrs. It comes to show you what the world is coming to.
ReplyDeleteThis was very interesting yet strange at the same time. it was nice to kno how they were made. This could make a big impact and help lots of things
ReplyDeleteI liked this article it was really good I found it weird with all the printer having cells on it. Oh yeah sorry patin I posted on the wrong blog post I swear I did it I accidentally did the January one im sorry but other than the printer its a really neat idea
ReplyDeleteI agree with Melissa Haynes on the belief that this is a completely acceptable new age of technology. Also, that this is a foreign concept for many scientists. With it being a relatively new invention, it is not surprising that it is being questioned. If this cell printer actually does end up working, the age of technology will change forever;however, whenever anything scientifically new is showing signs of immortality (not necessarily for the people themselves, but for the muscle tissue they possess) it will be abused and people will do whatever they want and injure their bodies knowing that they could get more muscle tissue. All in all, the pros outweigh the cons and this cell printer should be a new machine used in many hospitals the future.
ReplyDeletei found this article interesting yet im torn to if its ethical or not, I can see how this may help people with conditions medically. However the religious side of me is not sure this is any different then cloning. do i believe its possible?? Yes most definetly i do, I think to question modern science would be silly, we can do so many things now that people years ago i assume would of never thought possibit was interesting to read the posts by everyone and see that most people felt the same way.
ReplyDeleteI find this article very interesting because if we could create organs using this 3d printer then that could get rid of the whole donor list and could end up saving many lives
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ReplyDeleteI find this article intersting but yet dangerous.Say you want to print someone a heart or a kidney out and a glitch happens to the machine and you dont know it so therefore your giving someone a bad heart. I can see how scientist want to help the mental or people who need help but the need to thing about the most important thing Health and not what is the BIGGEST THING!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI find this article quite interesting yet very weird at the same time. I never realized that someone could create that type of technology and have it work. It is actually pretty acceptable to use it because it can help figure out some new things with the cells and save lives.
ReplyDeleteYet our scientist have stepped a few steps more into the unknown secrets of science. It is "jaw-dropping" amazing that we have recently created 3D printers which could replicate any object that it scans. Now we have taken it a step further and now using the same concept, but with cells which survive and later on transform into other cells, and eventually we can create full organs and tissues for the human body. I more interested into the fact of what mankind is capable of, and I cannot wait to see what else science has in store for us.
ReplyDeleteWhile I do find it pretty fascinating. I think this is also pretty scary. In the future, if we could replicate and make kidneys, hearts, etc. we could have a bright future for our health fields. But I disagree with everyone who says this will benefit people. I feel this is one step closer to the day that technology overcomes the human race.
ReplyDeleteI think it's very amazing. Honestly, I never thought scientists were so far ahead with all these fascinating technology.
ReplyDeleteThis will definitely help our future and our health fields. I'm also surprised because part me thinks is awesome and the other part of me just can't believe it.
This is a great invention. This can not only be great for scientist to use but it can also influence the making of other inventions. For example, there can be a printer that can replicates major organs of the body like the brain. The brain is an important part of our body, without it we wouldn't be able to see,touch,talk or function at all. This is an amazing idea & I hope to see it become more advanced :)
ReplyDeleteBriseida Resendiz chem. 6hr
ReplyDeleteI found this invention very fascinating. It is an amazing realization that technology has come this far and is becoming more and more advanced over the years. I do have an uneasy feeling about the invention because of the problems it may cause and because it is risky. Further testing and re-examination should be made with this invention, in order to be certain that it's for sure safe and benificial and to be certain what the outcomes are. Other than that, this invention is a great idea that will help us creatures, that we call humans.