Science with real bite: Full set of teeth grown in the lab
By FIONA MACRAE
Last updated at 5:26 PM on 13th July 2011
Scientists have grown fully formed teeth from stem cells.
The artificial teeth looked like the real thing, were sensitive to pain and could chew food.
The breakthrough was made on mice but could pave the way for those who lose teeth to decay or injury being able to ‘grow’ replacements.
Cutting edge: A bioengineered tooth, bottom right, successfully transplanted into the jaw of a mouse
The researchers harnessed the power of stem cells – ‘master cells’ which have the potential to be used to grow any part of the body – to generate teeth.
Two types of stem cell which between them contain all the instructions for making teeth were mixed together and grown in the lab in a mixture of chemicals and vitamins that started their transformation.