Scientists grow teeth in mice
SCIENTISTS may have discovered how to replace lost teeth in humans after successfully growing fully functional teeth in the mouths of mice.
As well as helping people to regain a full set of teeth in the event that they lose any, it is thought that the breakthrough could help scientists to rebuild whole organs in the future.
Researchers in Japan made the discovery after they implanted a ‘tooth germ’ - a seed-like package made up of all the cells needed to form a tooth - into the jaw bones of mice which had already had some of their back teeth removed.
The implanted tooth germs then began to sprout, creating fully-formed teeth in the mices’ mouths where there had previously been gaps.
As our picture shows, scientists used a green fluorescent protein that glowed under ultraviolet light in order to make the newly formed teeth easier to see. The teeth responded to pain and were as hard as natural ones.
Writing in an academic journal today, Dr Takashi Tsuji from Tokyo University of Science highlighted the significance of the findings.
He said: “This study represents a substantial advance and emphasises the potential for bioengineered organ replacement in future regenerative therapies.”