Whole organ 'grown' in world first (BBC) {mouse thymus}
By James Gallagher
Health editor, BBC News website
A whole functional organ has been grown from scratch inside an animal for the first time, say researchers in Scotland.
A group of cells developed into a thymus - a critical part of the immune system - when transplanted into mice.
The findings, published in Nature Cell Biology, could pave the way to alternatives to organ transplantation.
Experts said the research was promising, but still years away from human therapies.
The thymus is found near the heart and produces a component of the immune system, called T-cells, which fight infection.
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more: http://www.bbc.com/news/health-28887087
http://www.nature.com/ncb/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ncb3023.html (paywall, except abstract and figures)
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