Could the microchannels in asparagus help repair a damaged human spinal cord?
In short: Biomedical researcher Andrew Pelling is exploring a radical way to reconstruct human tissue. By stripping plants of their DNA and cells, his lab creates structural scaffolds. Now, they are testing whether the internal architecture of asparagus can guide cell regeneration following a complex spinal cord injury.
The concept relies on using plant matter as a biological scaffold. In his research, Andrew Pelling strips organisms of their DNA and cells, leaving behind only the structural fibers. These fibers act as a framework to reconstruct damaged or diseased human tissues. This method was previously explored in 2016 when Pelling demonstrated how to create ears using apples. This innovative technique involves removing the biological components of the plant to isolate the remaining fibres. Such a process allows researchers to repurpose these natural structures for medical use.
The current focus involves asparagus, specifically investigating whether the vegetable's natural microchannels can serve as a guide for regenerating cells after a spinal cord injury. This approach represents a significant shift in regenerative medicine, moving from synthetic materials to repurposed botanical structures. Preliminary evidence in rats suggests that this method may be effective, providing the first data of this kind to show that plant tissues could potentially repair such complex injuries. This research marks a pioneering moment in the field. It offers the initial evidence that botanical tissues might possess the capability to mend such intricate damage.
While the research is still in the experimental stages, the implications for synthetic biology are vast. Pelling, who co-founded the startup Spiderwort to translate these discoveries into real-world applications, notes that scientific breakthroughs often come from experiments that initially seem unlikely to work. If successful, this technique could offer a new way to address some of the most difficult injuries in human medicine by leveraging the existing architecture of the natural world. His venture, Spiderwort, aims to turn these laboratory findings into practical medical solutions. This work highlights how unexpected scientific successes can emerge from unconventional experimentation.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Could we treat spinal cord injuries with asparagus? | Andrew Pelling
- Also: WHAAAAAT?: The talks of TED2020 Session 4 | TED Blog
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/ideas-could-we-treat-spinal-cord-injuries-with-asparagus-andrew-pe.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
