Regenerative Science

[nfotxn]

Pig bladder powder regrows human finger

A man cut off his finger tip while working on a model plane. His brother, a medical research scientist, sent him a vial containing powdered pig bladder and told him to sprinkle on the severed finger tip. It grew back -- "flesh, blood, vessels and nail" -- in four weeks.

That powder is a substance made from pig bladders called extracellular matrix. It is a mix of protein and connective tissue surgeons often use to repair tendons and it holds some of the secrets behind the emerging new science of regenerative medicine.

"It tells the body, start that process of tissue regrowth," said Badylak.

Badlayk is one of the many scientists who now believe every tissue in the body has cells which are capable of regeneration. All scientists have to do is find enough of those cells and "direct" them to grow.

"Somehow the matrix summons the cells and tell them what to do," Badylak explained. "It helps instruct them in terms of where they need to go, how they need to differentiate - should I become a blood vessel, a nerve, a muscle cell or whatever."

Comments

CoooOOoooOOOoool

[pxtl.livejournal.com]

nt

[abearius.livejournal.com]

I want ta powder that will regenerate my faith in people.

[pensivegargoyle.livejournal.com]

I need the magic optic nerve powder, not the magic finger powder. Fortunately, it might exist. Tissue regeneration is really a fascinating area of research.

[aadroma.livejournal.com]

Man, how many people I can think of who could use something like that ...

[beg1n.livejournal.com]

I thought with that title, it was going to be a story from The Onion. I'm speechless.