The Economist reported in its latest issue that US-based Gene Duplication Corporation had managed to 3D print an animal. Yes. We can now print Lassie.
Print your Pet
GeneDupe’s Universal Pet Printer is loaded with each of the 220 cell types (grown from stem cells in the company’s histology laboratory), and is programmed with a three-dimensional map of the creature it is to create. That is devised by the firm’s scientists, based on what the nanotomographic analysis has told them about the results of arranging cells in different ways in an animal’s body.
Wow. Perhaps this seems impossible, but several different companies like the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine have 3D printed kidneys. Jaws, bladders, throats… a new month brings a new 3D printed design or material. And now pets no less.
There’s more.
There are still a few technical difficulties to overcome, of course, but Dr Fril plans to start taking orders soon. And he is already looking forward to the firm’s next product, custom-printed boyfriends and girlfriends for those who cannot find the right partner by conventional means-a surprisingly large proportion of the population. If all goes well, these will be available by St Valentine’s day. If not, customers will probably have to wait until April 1st of next year.
Hehehe. Right on.
