OF MICE AND TEETH

Smile! Scientists in Britain have developed a way to grow new teeth.The feat was accomplished by combining tissue from human gums with tooth tissue taken from embryonic mice. When scientists implanted this mix in the tissue surrounding the kidneys of living mice, it soon developed into hybrid human/mouse teeth, complete with roots, dentin and enamel.The challenge now is to find a way to get adult human cells to be tooth-inducing. That could permit the new technology to be used instead of implanting artificial replacements, a technique that doesn't produce a natural root structure and can lead to a loss of bone in the jaw.