It may not be long before patients can order organs off the shelves. Scientists say it may be another 10 years but progress is rapid. Recently, a group of researchers in London succeeded in creating a liver in the lab from stem cells. These cells are usually obtained from skin or blood to develop organs artificially.

Across the world, those in need of organs for transplantation are growing everyday day. On the other hand, organ donations are woefully few and far between. Thousands of patients praying for a new heart valve or liver or kidney are undergoing a degenerative quality of life. New developments such as these spark hope in living a better life.

It would be many years before this technology is applied in regenerative medicine. A working liver is now a practical reality. Using it for organ transplants is the next challenge.

(AW:Sruthi)