The ability to regenerate or recreate missing body parts sounds more like part of a science fiction story than reality. But researchers are finding evidence that regeneration may be possible someday in the future with improvements in technology. They imagine using 3D-printing to make a kidney for someone in need of a replacement. They also talk about possibly using bioelectricity to cause cells to build new tissue and organs. These ideas and others were discussed earlier this month at the World Science Festival in New York City. The presentation was called “Forever Young: The Promise of Human Regeneration.” Scientists talked about the future of regenerative medicine, which combines the body’s ability to heal itself with progress in biomedical engineering.
