SELF-DRIVING STEM CELLS ARE OPENING A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES, INCLUDING DRUG TESTING AND TISSUE SOURCING.
Since the 1980s, stem cells’ shape-shifting abilities have wowed scientists. With proper handling, a few growth factors, and some time, stem cells can be cooked up into specific cell types, including neurons, muscle, and skin. However, stem cells know more than they’re given credit for. Over the past decade, researchers have discovered that, left to their own devices, stem cells will generate multiple cell types that assemble into structures resembling an organ. These organoids have been made for many body parts, including the retina, liver, intestine, kidney, and even the brain. Read Full Article Here