Interesting Video About Stem Cells and Growing Body Parts

[MJDub09]

This doesn't really talk about hair and its primary focus is other body parts, but if they can regenerate a beating heart, they should be able to make a hair follicle lol.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5975132n

Just something to throw up for discussion.

 

[waynakyo]

This is VERY interesting. Some thoughts:

1- wouldn't you think that putting (injecting) ECM in the scalp should help regenerate follicles ?

2- If you seen the last bit of the video they go off on a tangent and talk about how they transplanted a hand on a guy and the process they used to AVOID him taking immune suppressing drugs. I always thought this should be a good way to solve the baldness problem. Transplant someone else's hair.

 

[waynakyo]

Well it must not be a great idea since Oprah suggested it, but apparently she's not the only one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AppsEtEGzSA

 

[Belmondo]

Extraordinary and inspiring.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that some body parts are easier to replicate/grow than others (e.g. ears, liver, heart). I wonder why.

I found the last story (the guy with the transplanted hand) particularly moving, because I have a friend who lost a hand in an accident. Here's a silly question: transplants of internal organs are now commonplace, why are transplants of limbs so rare? What's the difference?