Stem Cell Research - Scientists grow a beating heart in a lab!

I watched a program on television and later found this article with a video clip regarding research funded by the University of Minnesota and the Medtronic Foundation.

Researchers are able to grow replacement organs in a laboratory, and have succesfully done so with a rat’s heart!

By removing the cells from an organ, they are left with a gelatin-like matrix. Cells are then injected back into this matrix, which cover the walls, to eventually form a complete organ. The heart was electrically stimulated and started beating again.

Similarly, a pig’s organs can be used and injected with our own cells, to form a new human organ.