Limb Regeneration

[Merlin]

Anyone following the DARPA research on human limb regeneration?
I guess it'll soon be mainstream rather than esoteric.

[Terry (existing)]

If they can clone a sheep, I see no barrier to cloning a limb, so you could well be correct, and we will see it done shortly. Wonder if they will ever clone nerves, so that we can grow a new spine etc....

[Merlin]

It's not about cloning, but regeneration of the limb.

[Don]

I recently saw a news report showing how stem cells could be used in rats to regrow spinal nerves. A rat with no use of its rear legs began to walk again.

Miracles are all around us.

[Merlin]

and we have an abundace of stem cells in our blood.

[tdiamond]

lizards do it why shouldnt we? perhaps no one told them it was hard to do....

[Merlin]

>izards do it why shouldnt we?

Some do

[tdiamond]

I understand that.. have even witnessed things that make that seem mundane :) but for most people pose the question and let them consider... the possibilities

[parsa]

Yeah, I read about that. If I remember correctly just two groups are going to work on the project to see if they can come up with promising preliminary results. It is really exciting:).

[Merlin]

One big *problem* is medical doctors seal off the wound.
The barrier prevents regrowth

[JonRhodesUK]

Very interesting conversation. I think we will be getting new body parts sooner than we think. Which is good because I have a dodgy finger that needs replacing, and have just had a tooth removed! :)