• Question: As it is possible to make artificial bones, do you think it is possible to make artificial organs?

    Asked by MéabhBstdominics to Sophie on 11 Jun 2018.
    • Photo: Sophie Louth

      Sophie Louth answered on 11 Jun 2018:

      Hi Méabh,

      Lots of people are working towards making artificial organs.
      For some organs we have machines that can do the job, for example machines that replace the heart by pumping the blood for you, or dialysis machines to clean the blood if your kidneys fail.
      Other organs we are making progress to make that organ out of cells so that it is far more similar to the organ inside your body. For example there are quite a few ways of making skin out of your own skin cells for example if you are badly burnt in a fire, however it isn’t perfect as it doesn’t contain sweat glands or hair follicles. So yes we are working on it and it might be possible in ten years time – perhaps something you could create in the future!

      Best wishes,
      Sophie

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