Engineered Rabbit Penises Raise Human Hopes

[The Straight Story]

Engineered Rabbit Penises Raise Human Hopes


Using tissue grown in a laboratory, researchers have engineered fully functional replacement penises. The organs were made for rabbits, but the technique may someday be useful for people.

“This technology has considerable potential for patients requiring penile construction,” wrote researchers in a study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Leading the team was Anthony Atala, director of Wake Forest University’s Institute of Regenerative Medicine. Atala is best known for developing a technique in which cells are taken from an organ and sprayed onto a frame made of collagen, the primary structural protein in animal tissue. The structure is then bathed with growth-stimulating compounds and kept in an oven that duplicates the body’s temperature and chemical composition.

Given these starting conditions, natural biology does the rest. The cells divide and arrange themselves in natural, working configurations.

Atala’s group has already implanted lab-grown bladders, grown from the patients’ own tissue, in seven men. Bladders are just one of dozens of organs being engineered by the group, from every part of the body — but in some organs, it’s been difficult to find the right starting mix of different cell types, and reconstruction has proved challenging. The penis is one such organ.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/11/penis-engineering/

[KittyWampus]

1. They've literally grown bladders and men have lived with resulting organs? WOW!

I had no idea.

It seems to have a certain freaky-factor but then I don't have a dead bladder.

Imagine kidneys or livers.

[KittyWampus]

2. Oh, and this thread is useless without pictures

;)

[The Straight Story]

3. There are some at the link

or I could run out and catch a rabbit and hold it up to web cam :rofl:

[DainBramaged]

4. I'll take the Ron Jeremy model please...........

:evilgrin:

[lunatica]

11. The burning question is can they make dildos though?

[ddeclue]

5. Did they look like any of these?

:rofl:

[ddeclue]

6. I don't see too many guys saying doc cut this thing off -it's useless - and give me a new dick.

It's not like replacing a broken windshield after all.

:rofl:

[lunatica]

12. I can see some women considering asking docs to replace their husband's

Especially some Christian ones who didn't give up their virginity until they were married. There's a reason why the church wants women to remain chaste till marriage. In the church's eyes, women's ignorance is men's bliss.

[KittyWampus]

17. detachable penis...

[Historic NY]

7. This could have serious consequences......constant humping.....

<snip>

Oddly, the procedure seemed to make the rabbits randier than usual.

“Most control rabbits did not attempt copulation after introduction to their female partners,” wrote the researchers. “All rabbits with bioengineered neocorpora attempted copulation within one minute of introduction.”

<snip>

[Botany]

8. This science could unleash some monsters

[lunatica]

9. I refuse to go there

I've decided that today I'm gonna act like a lady and pretend the world is perfect

[yellowcanine]

10. Yes but who wants a rabbit's penis?

Someone had to ask.

[lunatica]

13. DUzy

Someone has to say it.

[Tsar_Bomba]

14. Good to know I'll have a replacement when mine wears out

[pipi_k]

20. Just don't keep the spare in the freezer...

unless you want a big surprise at your next barbecue

[mule_train]

15. well, you have to admit, they work pretty well

given the number of bunnies, all over the place

[Still Sensible]

16. Oh Geez! The next Viagra blitz and an ever increasing

spam campaign to come. We get enough "Do you want a bigger penis" emails now.

[JaneQPublic]

18. And to think, people once believed that a rabbit FOOT was lucky.

:rofl:

[DireStrike]

19. Good for FTM surgery

And another step closer to immortality.

[undeterred]

21. It probably won't be covered by most insurance plans.

[RetroLounge]

22. If they figure out how to engineer a 12" version...

...would they call it a rabbit's foot?

:shrug:

RL

[reflection]

23. Oh, now THAT was good.

(golf clap)

:D

[lunatica]

24. I can hear the nicknames already

Wascally Wabbit

Bugs Bunny

The Bunny Playboy

You know, nicknames!

[juno jones]

25. And will this be covered by the new health bill?...

...sorry, just had to ask.

:hide: