A Japanese research team said Thursday that it has become the world’s first to create miniaturized organs closely resembling the human placenta in structure and functions.

The team, including researchers of Tokyo Medical and Dental University, expects that the human placenta organoids, the miniature version, can be applied to research to understand how viruses infect the placenta and to develop safe new drugs.

The team’s research results were published in the online edition of the British journal Nature Communications.

  • Quokka
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    1110 months ago

    Could we grow mini people one day? Like lil borrower sized people.

    • veee
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      410 months ago

      The phrase “standing on the shoulders of giants” may someday be interpreted literally.

    • Dharma Curious
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      210 months ago

      This has been my dream for years. I long for the day when science splices human DNA and pygmy marmoset DNA, creating tiny little borrower people. I will build them doll houses and ask for nothing in return. They will be too pure and good for capitalism, they must be provided for.