General Article Five children have new ears grown from their own cells in a world first

Topic Selected: Biotech and Bioethics Book Volume: 352
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By David Nield

A group of five children in China have been given new ears – based on detailed 3D models and grown from their own cells – in a world first for this kind of treatment.

The kids, aged between six and nine, all had microtia, where the external part of the ear ends up deformed. In these cases the condition was unilateral, affecting only one side, so scientists were able to create high-resolution scans of their healthy ears to help grow replacement ones.

Now the team of tissue engin...

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