LONDON (TIP): Stem cells obtained from urine could one day allow humans to regrow lost teeth, scientists claim. Chinese scientists used stem cells from urine to create tiny ‘tooth buds’ that when transplanted into mice grew into tooth-like structures. Stem cells — cells which can grow into any type of tissue — are popular among researchers looking for ways to grow new teeth to replace those lost with age and poor dental hygiene.
The group at the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health used urine as the starting point, BBC News reported. Cells which are normally passed from the body, such as those from the lining of the body’s waterworks, are harvested in the laboratory. These collected cells are then coaxed into becoming stem cells. In the study, a mix of these cells and other material from a mouse was implanted into the animals. The researchers said that after three weeks the bundle of cells started to resemble a tooth: “The tooth-like structure contained dental pulp, dentin, enamel space and enamel organ.” However, the “teeth” were not as hard as natural teeth.
The tooth is out there Scientists used stem cells from urine to create tiny ‘tooth buds’ Cells which are normally passed from the body, such as those from the lining of the body’s waterworks, were harvested in a laboratory When transplanted These collected cells However, the “teeth” into mice, they grew into were then coaxed into were not as hard as tooth-like structures becoming stem cells natural teeth