Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Tooth Bud From Stem Cells Looms Large
Implanted tooth buds created from stem cells may replace false teeth. Paul Sharpe, who specializes in the field of regenerative dentistry at King's College, London, believes that this procedure, which has been shown to work in mice, will work in humans as well.
Stem cells taken from the patient are used, which takes care of the possibility of tissue rejection. Stem cells are unique in their ability to grow into any of the cell types in the body. Under laboratory conditions, the stem cells are stimulated to grow into a tooth. After a few weeks, the cells have multiplied into a small group called a "bud." The tooth bud can be inserted into the gum, where it takes resources from the body to grow into a full-sized tooth, stimulating the growth of nerves and blood vessels so it is fully integrated into the body.
Tooth buds are an ordinary part of human growth and development; teeth have three stages of growth - bud, cap and bell. In the developing fetus, patches of epithelial cells (skin cells of the mouth) form tooth buds. Over time, the structures of the tooth form (dentin, cementum and pulp). Deposits of calcium and mineral salts harden the tissue; layers of enamel form from the top of the crown down to the roots. Finally, the tooth errupts from the gum line (from Tooth Bud).
Science fiction fans may recall the cosmetic toothbud transplants from William Gibson's 1984 novel Neuromancer; why be satisfied with ordinary human-type teeth? In an earlier reference, one of the characters in Samuel R. Delany's 1968 Nebula Award-winning novel Babel-17 had walrus-sized incisors.
From Grow-your-own to replace false teeth via How Stuff Works.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 5/6/2004)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 14 )
Related News Stories - (" Biology ")
Lunar Biorepository Proposed For Cryo-Preservation Of Earth Species
'...there was no one alive who had ever seen them. But they existed in the Life Bank.' - John Varley, 1977.
Let's Make Slaver Sunflowers! Engineering Plants To Reflect Light
'The mirror-blossom was a terrible weapon.' - Larry Niven, 1965.
Machete-Wielding Philodendron Isn't Going To Take It Anymore
'The tree ended its wild larruping, stood like a dreaming giant liable to wake into frenzy at any moment.' - Eric Frank Russell, 1943.
Tsunami Forecasts Improved By Ionosphere Signals
'Swifter than any tide could ebb, the water was receding from the shore.'
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Huawei Pura X Folding Phattie Phone
Why can't we get more innovative phone configurations?
Sleep Pods At Daxing International Airport
'Do not waste your priceless company on the unappreciative folds of a sleep pod...'
Robot Baristas Learn Their Trade Without Paying Royalties
'...so we've promised him a generous pension from the royalties.'
JAXA Int Ball 2 Coming Right Along As Star Wars Remote
'Hocus-pocus religions and archaic weapons are no substitute for a good blaster at your side.'
Robot Bricklayer Or Passer-By Bricklayer?
'Oscar picked up a trowel. 'I'm the tool for the mortar,' the little trowel squeaked cheerfully.'
Robot Gas Station Attendant Pumps Gas For You
'... he waited for the robotrix attendant to finish fueling up his ship.'
Engineer Creates Crazy Motorized Track Hospital Bed
The Roujin Z system provides care to fully bedridden patients - and then some!
Tiny Flying Robot Weighs Just One Gram
'Aerostat meant anything that hung in the air. This was an easy trick to pull off nowadays.'
Some Ringworld Configurations Are Stable
'The Ringworld had no horizon. There was no line where the land curved away from the sky.'
TRANSFORM Dynamic Furniture Concept Becomes What You Need
'An adjustment panel outside the door would cause it to extrude various appurtenances in memory plastic...'
Harvard Metamaterials Change Structure Instantly
'Annealed in any shape for a time, and codified, the structure of that shape is retained down to the molecules.'
SnapBot Robots - You Choose Their Legs And They Choose Their Gaits
It's not really polite to tear the limbs off robots.
Dino From Magical Toys An AI Companion To Children
'...the imaginary companions discovered by needful children.'
Humanoid Robots Building Humanoid Robots
''Pardon me, Struthers,' he broke in suddenly... 'haven't you a section of the factory where only robot labor is employed?''
Darpa 'Defiant' Unmanned Autonomous Ship
'There was no wheel, and no steersman!'
What's The Best Way To Ship And Unpack Humanoid Robots?
'I opened the oblong box, where lay the automatons side by side...'
