Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Tommy92101 on 02/09/2016 18:18:09
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Hello, My finger was lost after getting caught in a motorcycle chain. They weren't able to reattach it because there was too much damage. Why can't we grow a new one for me in a lab? Could they use a finger from an organ donor? I wouldn't want one that way, but just curious if that's technically possible.
My index finger was reattached but I cannot bend it.
Thanks :)
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... Could they use a finger from an organ donor? I wouldn't want one that way, but just curious if that's technically possible ...
Transplanting appendages from donors is possible ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penis_transplantation 8¬o
But generally the risk (and expense) of continuous immune-suppression (to stop rejection) wouldn't be worthwhile.
It's possible to have false-fingers attached like false-teeth: via titanium implants ...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3809647/
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If you lost a finger-tip when you were under 5 years old, it would regrow itself (provided that medical intervention did not block the growing tip, eg with a skin graft).
However, we seem to lose that ability as adults.
The Axolotl and Salamander are famous for being able to regrow a whole limb or tail, and researchers are trying to work out how they are different from humans. One difference seems to be that humans produce a lot of fibrous scar tissue, which blocks the ability of existing cells to replicate themselves and grow a new finger (or limb).
See 4 minute video on axolotl limb regrowth at: 15 minute Podcast at: http://www.sciencefriday.com/episodes/august-26-2016/
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Hello, My finger was lost after getting caught in a motorcycle chain. They weren't able to reattach it because there was too much damage. Why can't we grow a new one for me in a lab? Could they use a finger from an organ donor? I wouldn't want one that way, but just curious if that's technically possible.
My index finger was reattached but I cannot bend it.
Thanks :)
It would seem to be quite possible nowadays. People who have lost a significant fraction of both of her arms had two arms from a donor attached to them. The surgery was done at Brigham and Women's hospital. Cf. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/11/26/will-lautzenheiser-has-successful-double-arm-transplant-brigham-and-women-hospital/HN36G2HKIIeNxbdz3VeU3J/story.html
I can't see why it couldn't be done with a single finger.