Chinese Researchers Grow New Teeth From Urine
Researchers in China have used human urine to grow new teeth.
The findings of a new study, which have been published in Cell Regeneration Journal, showed that human urine can be used a source of stem cells to grow new teeth. During the trial, tiny teeth-like structures started to develop and the team is hoping to develop the research to generate new, fully-grown teeth, which could be used to replace teeth that are lost through injury or decay.
The research was carried out at the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health. Urine was collected and the cells were then harvested in a laboratory setting and encouraged to become stem cells; a blend of the cells and other bodily material from mice were transferred into the mouse and after 3 weeks a tooth-like structure, which contained pulp, enamel and dentin, had developed.
The findings of the study are not a green light for urine to be used to generate new human teeth; however, they can be used as a basis for further research in this area.
Not everyone has welcomed the new findings; Professor Chris Mason, from University College London, described urine as “a poor starting point” and one of “worst sources” of cells, as there are very few, which can be used and converted into stem cells.
Professor Mason also warned that there was a risk of contamination, which was significantly higher than with other sources of stem cells.
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