Scientists 3D-Print Living Tissue That Form Shapes, Pointless Or Gateway To Westworld?

Synthetic tissue has been a huge source of excitement in the scientific community for years, especially after 3D-printing technology really took off. Recently, scientists reveal that they were able to create shapes with 3D-printed tissue, which mimics what happens during natural development. At this point, the applications for such a discovery is still unknown, but it could lead to the creation of synthetic organs or skin.

Using mice and human active cells, the engineers were able to form certain shapes that include ones that look like cereal bowls and ripples. This development is also noteworthy because it brings scientists much closer to being able to replicate what nature has been able to achieve biologically. The senior author of the paper, Zev Gartner noted how this discovery adds to the understanding of natural science.

“Development is starting to become a canvas for engineering, and by breaking the complexity of development down into simpler engineering principles, scientists are beginning to better understand, and ultimately control, the fundamental biology. In this case, the intrinsic ability of mechanically active cells to promote changes in tissue shape is a fantastic chassis for building complex and functional synthetic tissues,” Gartner said.

Gartner is a member of the Center for Cellular Construction at the University of California, and along with his colleagues, they used a method called DNA-programmed assembly of cells (DPAC) to achieve the results. It’s basically a precise patterning approach with regards to 3D-printing living cells, Futurism reports.

The results of their work included patterns that could then form into the kinds of shapes that would normally be found in the natural development cycle of actual organisms. On that note, at least for the time being, it seems the discovery’s biggest impact is in research. Then again, there could come a day when physical products could be made using organic tissue.