MadSci Network: Cell Biology
Query:

Re: Can you grow sheets of cells?

Date: Mon Aug 18 12:30:33 2003
Posted By: Pamela Norton, faculty, Dept. of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson Univ.
Area of science: Cell Biology
ID: 1060226319.Cb
Message:

The answer to the question is yes, it is possible to grow sheets of various 
types of cells in culture, including muscle cells. There is a great deal of 
interest in doing exactly this for organ and tissue replacement (search for 
"tissue engineering".) One interesting description of an apparatus for 
providing an appropriate growth environment can be seen here:
 http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bobden/cell_culture_instrumentation.html

However, it sounds as though you are asking whether we can grow cow cells 
and turn them into food. This is probably just not practical, cows are 
infinitely better at growing cow tissue than scientists are, all they need 
is grass (or other appropriate feed) and water. The scale of what can be 
grown in cell culture is not nearly large enough. 

If you have concerns about eating animal protein, there are alternative 
food sources. You also might want to investigate meat products derived from 
animals that have been treated according to defined humane guidelines:
 http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/nov00/s111500d.asp

The humane society also has an informative site:
 http://www.hsus.org/ace/352

This is a great topic to investigate, good luck.



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