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 ")
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.'
EctoLife Concept Video Artificial Womb For Baby Mass Production
'A great many of these synthetic babies were made
and allowed to grow up under ideal conditions...' - Dr. David H. Keller, 1928.
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
WiFi and AI Team Up To See Through Walls
'The pitiless M rays pierced Earth and steel and densest concrete as if they were so much transparent glass...'
Climate Engineering In California Could Make Europe's Heat Waves Worse
'Pina2bo would have to operate full blast for many years to put as much SO2 into the stratosphere as its namesake had done in a few minutes.'
Optimus Robot Will Be A Good Nanny, Says Musk
'Nanny is different,' Tom Fields murmured... 'she's not like a machine. She's like a person.'
ESA To Build Moon Bases Brick By Printed LEGO Brick
'We made a crude , small cell and were delighted - and, I admit, somewhat surprised - to find it worked.'
Does The Shortage Of Human Inputs Limit AI Development?
'...we've promised him a generous pension from the royalties.'
Textiles That Harvest Energy And Store It
'The clothes and jewelery drew their tiny power requirements from her movements.'
LORIS Passive-Gripper Climbing Robot
'At the end of each appendage's eight fingers there are tinier appendages...'
Neuroplatform Human Brain Organoid Bioprocessor Uses Less Electricity
'Cultured brains on a slab.'
Drug To Regenerate Teeth In Humans
'We want to do something to help those who are suffering from tooth loss or absence,' said lead researcher Katsu Takahashi.
Coin-Sized Nuclear Battery Good For 100 Years
'...power pack the size of a pea.'
Live Stream With Meta-Ban Multimodal Smart Glasses
'...the bug-eyed, opaque gape of her True-Vu lenses.'
'Autonomous' Waymo Improves Driving With Remote Human Operators
'...some bored drone pusher in a remote driving centre has got your life... in his hands.'
Will Whales Be Our First Contact?
'He had piloted the Adastra to its first contact with the civilization of another solar system.'
Heinlein’s Controlway - Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Corridor In Michigan
'Well, that's us,' said Lazarus.
NYC/Dublin Portal Fails To Meet 'Guardian Of Forever' Standards
I am the Guardian of Forever.
SliceIt! Why Not Teach Robots To Use Knives?
'One building now gushed forth smoke and another stench that was unmistakable.'
