Scientists grow human liver in the laboratory

HUMAN livers have ben successfully grown by scientists under laboratory conditions.

The breakthrough could lead to livers being grown to transplant into patients, or to test experimental drugs.

Professor Mark Thursz, consultant hepatologist at St Mary's Hospital, London, and spokesman for the British Liver Trust, said: "There is no doubt that this is a major breakthrough."

Project director Professor Shay Soker, from the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine in North Carolina, said: "We are excited about the possibilities, but must stress that we're at an early stage and many technical hurdles must be overcome before it could benefit patients.

"Not only must we learn how to grow billions of liver cells at one time to engineer livers large enough for patients, but we must determine whether these organs are safe to use in patients."