Source: The Atlantic
Researchers at the Pelling Laboratory for Biophysical Manipulation at the University of Ottawa are using apples to populate human cells.
“It’s actually a piece of apple carved to look like an ear, yet it’s not really an apple either; the cellulose has been washed of its apple cells and populated instead with human ones,” writes Jessica Gamble for The Atlantic.
Researchers are turning to plants to develop regenerative medicine, and moving away from relying on expensive bio material from animals. By using plants to create the base structures required to host and populate human cells, the engineered alternative human body parts become more affordable for those who need them.
The research team at the Pelling Laboratory is working to make ‘DIY cell-culture incubators’ accessible to the public to encourage widespread research and experimenting – especially since there is limited funding for research.
Read full story at: The Atlantic