Extra Credit: 3D Printing Technology

          Professor Huang Wenhua and his students from Southern Medical University have been able to use the 3D printing technology to print out 3D bones and organs. The 3d printed structures are made up of thousands of layers of bone powder and biological glue. After successfully producing 3D printed rabbit and goat bones, the researchers discover that these experimental structures can withstand the same amount of pressure as the real bones. However, the researchers have yet to find a way of producing large, strong bones with active cells that can replace real bones. The professor claim that there would still be many years of experimenting and working before the 3d bones could be being implanted into patients and become useful in real-life cases.  Apart from the limitation of today’s 3d printed bones, this technology does have many potential benefits that will positively influence us in the future.  One of the benefits includes decreasing the long waiting times for organ donors. With this technology, many patients could replace their organs with 3d printed bones without having to face serious illness due to the lack of donors. The patients would have a faster rate of recovery than they would with the long waiting list of donors. Another benefit includes decreasing the chance of organ rejection after transplantation. Since the organ is printed the way the patient needs them, it is less likely for the body to reject the printed organ than the donor’s organ. This would increase the rate of the positive outcomes of the surgeries. There are also some risks involved in the use of the 3D printing technology. For example, there would be copyright issues or disputes over the ownership of the 3d structures produced by the companies. The patients or medical workers might get into serious trouble if the implant is used illegally without the permission of the owners. The difficulty in maintaining the cell environment in the 3d organ can also be a problem that puts the patients’ lives into danger. Although it is risky to use this technology, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. The 3D printing technology might cause several problems, but it would be improved over the years and would bring positive changes to the society. It would increase the efficiency of surgeries and medical treatment. It would also help patients receive organs before serious damage can be done to their health. This technology is definitely beneficial and useful for people around the 

Works Cited:
 Hipolite, Whitney. "Chinese Researchers 3D Print Rabbit & Goat Bones for Implantation Using Bone       Powder & Bio-glue."3DPrintcom. N.p., 15 July 2015. Web. 27 Jan. 2016.                                                   <http://3dprint.com/81530/3d-printed-rabbit-goat-bones/>

"3D Printed Bone Implants Are Here - 3D Printing Industry." 3D Printing Industry Move Over Titanium 3D Printed Bone Implants Are Here Comments. N.p., 18 May 2015. Web. 26 Jan. 2016.<http://3dprintingindustry.com/2015/05/18/move-over-titanium-3d-printed-bone-implants-are-here/>

"Pros & Cons - 3D Bioprinting." Pros & Cons - 3D Bioprinting. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2016. <https://sites.google.com/site/gsse2014b2/pros-cons>.

Picture:
<http://www.3ders.org/images2015/bone-printing-project-at-southern-medical-university-4.jpg>