Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Make it Lady on 30/04/2008 22:20:05

Title: Can pixie dust really grow fingers back on?
Post by: Make it Lady on 30/04/2008 22:20:05

Just saw the tail end of a report on the news about a matrix dust that has grow someones finger end back. How does this work and what is in the dust? I saw the mouse with an ear on its back but didn't know things had moved on.

Title: Can pixie dust really grow fingers back on?
Post by: chris on 04/05/2008 13:03:40

I am very dubious. A bit of poking about reveals that the guy who's finger grew back is the brother of the founder of the company that makes the powder.

That said, other work that the company (Acell) are doing is based on sound science and has been published in peer-reviewed journals. They are exploring the use of extracellular matrix materials as bio-compatible scaffolds to promote tissue repair.

Chris

Title: Can pixie dust really grow fingers back on?
Post by: another_someone on 04/05/2008 13:56:42

Also, reading between the lines, I am not at all sure if the 'finger' was grown, or merely the tip of the finger (i.e. soft tissue, but no bone, and probably no muscle) regrew.  I suspect the latter.

Title: Can pixie dust really grow fingers back on?
Post by: Make it Lady on 05/05/2008 16:10:24

The pictures I saw did show a whole finger end including nail. I'm going to watch this one as it does seem too good to be true.

Title: Can pixie dust really grow fingers back on?
Post by: ukmicky on 05/05/2008 17:13:48

I reckon at some time in the future It will be possible to regrow a severved limb

Title: Can pixie dust really grow fingers back on?
Post by: Andrew K Fletcher on 05/05/2008 17:22:28

it's quite common for finger tips to grow back, particularly with babies and younger children. However, 4 weeks timescale as mentioned in the video is pretty rapid and the finger tip does look relatively new compared to the rest of the finger.

Having a brother working in this field comes in handy and IMO adds credence to the story rather than detracting from it. Because they could easily have reported on an unrelated case. If this turns out to be accurate it has implications for spinal cord injury regeneration.

Title: Can pixie dust really grow fingers back on?
Post by: neilep on 05/05/2008 17:34:55

Will it make other things grow too ?

Title: Can pixie dust really grow fingers back on?
Post by: Make it Lady on 05/05/2008 22:13:20

If it is going to sort out spinal injuries, why hasn't more fuss been made about it. When science has gone wrong the press go bonkers, then something like this comes along and the ten oclock news used it as the novelty item at the very end.
I would really like new livers to be grown for people with liver cancer. Skin for people with burns. This is epic and no one seems to care.