New bioprinting technique allows for complex microtissues
Bioprinting is currently used to generate model tissues for research and has potential applications in regenerative medicine. Existing bioprinting techniques rely on printing cells embedded in hydrogels, which results in low-cell-density constructs that are well below what is required to grow functional tissues. Maneuvering different kinds of cells into position to replicate the complex makeup of an organ, particularly at organlike cell densities, is still beyond their capabilities. The researchers’ new technique allows clumps of cells to be picked and placed into a self-healing hydrogel, which holds them in complex spatial arrangements as they grow together. Once the tissue model is formed, the hydrogel is washed away. (Image: Penn Engineering Today)
reporter: robert jason burdick was on trial for the first of 13 rape charges but no victim had ever seen his face. he left no visible evidence except prosecutors claimed his dna. the defense led by attorney general fletcher long maintained that wasn t enough. they don t have anything from inside the house that ties him to mr. burdick. they don t have anything they retrieved from the yard that ties him to mr. burdick. they have nothing but dna evidence. that dna evidence tagged jason burdick as the owner. but the defense made the jury aware that in rare cases two people can share the same dna. and the probability increases as the degree of kinship to the defendant gets greater, would you agree? yes, starting with identical twins. reporter: did you have any hope you might be able to use the evil twin defense? no. they sure thought we were going to say that, didn t they? no. one thing you have to do is you have to shake the science. reporter: a long shot? of cour