Deaf News: Scientists grow entire human ear in laboratory

According to this report on the BBC website, “US scientists say they have moved a step closer to being able to grow a complete human ear from a patient’s cells.”

The breakthrough may give hope to deaf people with Treacher Collins Syndrome,  some of whom have to undergo surgery in order to have specially adapted hearing aids fitted.

Extract:

In a new development in tissue engineering, they have grown a human-like ear from animal tissue.

The ear has the flexibility of a real ear, say researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

The technique may one day be used to help people with missing or deformed outer ears, they believe.

Tissue engineering is a growing field in medical science, where substitute organs are made in the laboratory in the hope of using them to replace damaged ones.

Read the full article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23508688

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