Quote:
Scientists have for the first time grown a complex, fully functional organ from scratch in a living animal by transplanting cells that were originally created in a laboratory. The team created a thymus – an organ in the body located next to the heart that produces immune cells known as T cells that are vital for guarding against disease. The advance could in future aid the development of ‘lab-grown’ replacement organs.
This is of course an important step, since lab grown organs are a solution to organ shortages. Also veal thymus is considered delicious by some people and lab grown thymus would provide an animal-friendly alternative.
See also:
Scientists grow an organ in an animal from cells created in lab (at Science Daily)
Fascinating Future 