Ears and noses from test tube

Researchers from Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London have become the first to turn stem cells from body fat in the abdomen of children into living cartilage, through tissue engineering.

This ground-breaking procedure could help young patients who are born with debilitating facial abnormalities, such as 'microtia’, where the outer ear is underdeveloped, or those who require reconstructive surgery after an accident.

Experts believe it could ultimately be utilised in many other types of transplant surgery, to help reduce the risk of the body rejecting a replacement organ.

Currently, when facial features of children with severe birth defects need to be rebuilt, surgeons have to take cartilage from other parts of the body, such as the ribs, which is an invasive and painful procedure.

British scientists have developed a great technique. They have developed a process to grow ears and noses. They take stem cells from the body's fat and in a laboratory through tissue engineering they turn into living cartilage. This technique benefits patients who had any abnormality when they were born or people who has suffered an accident.

In my opinion this is a fantastic development. Most of the patients will improve their lives' quality because we live in a world where the beauty is very important, we saw it last term. The members (noses and frame's ears) are achieved in a combination of natural and artificial materials.

Development is very important in our society and we see a lot of improvements. It's very different these kind of surgery than the other one which only searches  beauty, in these cases is a necessity for these persons. 

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