Teeth in your intestines

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Oddly Enough - Reuters

Doctors Grow Pig Teeth in Rat Intestines
Tue Oct 1, 9:10 AM ET

BOSTON (Reuters) - U.S. doctors have managed to grow pig teeth in rat intestines, a feat of bioengineering they said could spark a dental revolution.

Researchers at the Forsyth Institute said their successful experiment suggests the existence of dental stem cells, which could one day allow a person to replace a lost or missing tooth with an identical tooth grown from his or her own cells.

The research may signal that the days of synthetic dental implants -- dentures, bridges and crowns -- are numbered.

"The ability to identify, isolate and propagate dental stem cells to use in biological replacement tooth therapy has the potential to revolutionize dentistry," Dominick DePaola, president and CEO of the Boston-based research institute, said on Thursday.

The experiment involved taking seeded cells from immature teeth of six-month-old pigs and then placing them within the intestines of rats.

Within 30 weeks, small recognizable tooth crowns -- containing enamel and dentin, a bone-like material found under the enamel -- had formed, the researchers said.

The researchers said they hope that within five years they will have developed techniques to grow teeth of a specific size and shape, and that within 10 years it will be possible to regenerate human teeth.

The research was due to be published in the Oct 1 issue of Journal of Dental Research.

― Mike Hanle y (mike), Wednesday, 2 October 2002 13:34 (twenty-two years ago)

And just when I've had a blingy gold tooth fitted. Darn it!

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 2 October 2002 13:55 (twenty-two years ago)

interweb dentalists!

― lawrence kansas, Wednesday, 2 October 2002 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

"So doc, what's the verdict, will I need dentures, or can you do a bridge"
"neither will be necessary, we can implant one"
"implant a false tooth?"
"actually no, a real one"
"it wasn't grown in a rats arse was it"
"that's ok, I'll fit you for a denture"

― Sofa King Alternative (Sofa King Alternative), Wednesday, 2 October 2002 14:12 (twenty-two years ago)

See, proof postitive what US taxpayers cash is used for;> Course, I would try to take care of my teeth, if I were you.

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Wednesday, 2 October 2002 14:13 (twenty-two years ago)

good news for N.

― felicity (felicity), Wednesday, 2 October 2002 16:59 (twenty-two years ago)

(gah! this is so much like my nightmares i can't tell if i'm even awake right now. throw some evil telepaths and some blue maggot sushi in here and i'm never turning my computer on ever again)

― the actual mr. jones (actual), Wednesday, 2 October 2002 17:28 (twenty-two years ago)

*shrug* Every so often you hear about someone from whom doctors removed a 50+ pound cyst...in which they found teeth and hair.

― j.lu (j.lu), Wednesday, 2 October 2002 17:32 (twenty-two years ago)

"Pig teeth in rat intestines"? Was one of the Dr.s named Octagon or something?

― Nate Patrin, Wednesday, 2 October 2002 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

50+ pound cyst would be 1/3 of my body!! they find teeth and hair in those because they've amputated your head and upper torso obv

― the actual mr. jones (actual), Wednesday, 2 October 2002 18:05 (twenty-two years ago)

yes but why and what does it all MEAN..........................?

― donna (donna), Wednesday, 2 October 2002 19:54 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

It's going on two years now. I wonder if they've made any progress or should I go have my teeth cleaned after all?

― Skottie, Monday, 24 May 2004 03:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Did you find this on random or have you been wondering about it for the past couple years?

― C0L1N B3CK3TT (Colin Beckett), Monday, 24 May 2004 03:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I've still got all of mine. Calcium and stay outta fisticuffs, I say. And an occasional flossing will help.

― jim wentworth (wench), Monday, 24 May 2004 03:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Good things come to those who wait (but not to those who wait too late).

― Skottie, Monday, 24 May 2004 03:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I've still got all of mine. Calcium and stay outta flossicuffs, I say. And an occasional fisting will help.

My word, matron!

― You're the Wish You Are I Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 24 May 2004 03:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I pooped in a toilet today...
And my poop had fishteeth.
I ate a perana for supper.
They are good with chitlins.
Rat intestits are meaty too.
Remember in Demalishin Mang Silvestor Stallone ate a ratburger he said Mmm... that's pretty good to eat!
Demalshin Man isn't that good tho because Rocky 4 or IV not the drugs but the one where he fights Dolf Lungrin the Solviet Communest in after he killed Apollo and James Brown sang I Live in America and he feels good but not after Apollo died it was very sad so Rocky fought again and kicked the Russhians ass in the Solviet Union!

― Apollo Creed's Golden Retreever, W/ Tenis Ball in the SwimminPoo, Monday, 24 May 2004 05:01 (twenty-one years ago)

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