Print A Kidney

It doesn’t take much to make me feel like an imbecile.

In fact, the video below will do quite nicely, thank you.

I simply cannot believe some of the advances we are making in technology and research. It seems as though we, as a culture or society are dividing into three distinct groups:

1) The Ignorant Masses- this could unfortunately be the fastest-growing segment of our population, thanks to an educational system that, despite what politicians desire-is the direct opposite of “No Child Left Behind”. They ARE being left behind—in droves. Free to consume sugared beverages and plant themselves in front of a screen, they are well-versed on what the Kardashians are up to, but may have trouble tying their shoes. Obese, lazy and narrow of mind, their desires stray towards “fame”and “wealth” –using as their role models the characters they see on TV.

2) The Intelligent Middle—I would like to count myself into this group—am I? Who knows? These are the folks with reasonable education, intelligence and motivation. Movers and shakers, we may comprise the bulk of the population actually running businesses, government and education. Without proper supervision, however, we risk falling into Group 1 if not careful about how we spend our free time. The longer we are out of school and the more we expose ourselves to banal TV reality shows, video games and celebrity magazines, the more likely we are to lose our edge and descend into the “ignorant abyss”.

3) The Super Brains—These people are the “nerds” who have locked themselves into laboratories and universities. Perhaps socially backward, these individuals (a VERY small slice of the humanity pie) are nevertheless the BRILLIANT minds who toil in obscurity creating advances that blow our minds.

Such is the case with the following ---an advance in medicine that is just a few years away from full fruition—and clearly being used already with some success.

You may remember a previous blog I wrote about so-called “3-D Copiers”—machines that could take an object like a hammer and re-create it using a resin-type compound—down to the smallest detail.

Well, check this out---the SAME idea—applied to biomedical research and the goal of literally creating human organs using advanced materials grown from our own cells and then manipulated within a machine. A kidney that is…printed out—and then implanted in the patient. Crazy!

Watch this video is amazement:





http://www.ted.com/talks/anthony_atala_printing_a_human_kidney.html



The smallest detail of this process and or machine is profoundly advanced, intricate and sophisticated.

These are the miracles of tomorrow that will seem commonplace someday. Could it be that someone who loses a leg could regenerate a new one like a crustacean does? Not only does it seem likely, it seems almost inevitable.

The brains are taking over—and, although it may be too late for me to join their ranks, as a parent I am convinced that my kids are well on their way to Group #3.

Then they can take care of me in my old age—maybe even grow me a new brain.

If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@cumulus.com