In the US an average of 18 people a day die, waiting for a transplant, due to the shortage of donated organs. But science has now, taken a step toward the future by growing for the very first time a pair of lungs in a lab, from 2 deceased children. The results could in fact be the solution to the millions of people around the world waiting for an organ to save their lives.
Researchers from the University of Texas used portions from the deceased, to gather cells, strip down the lungs and grown a complete set of human lungs in just 4 weeks. This technique was first developed in 2010 when scientists tested this theory on rats and a pig.
But now the results are in, a human body part was grown in a lab and the potential this has to save lives in the future is inspiring. However it could be a minimum of 12 years before this technique to grow lungs in a lab becomes a reality.
While the researchers and stem cell scientists have made headlines with this procedure, it may be a while before the shortage of organs to donate is no longer a problem. This is one small step for science and a giant leap for organ donation, as I am left to ponder, what organ will they grow next?
Human Lungs Grown In Lab From Deceased Children: Is This The Future Of Organ Donation? [VIDEO]
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