3D tissue and organ printingIB MYP Biology: Flashcards

Exam questions on 3D tissue and organ printing

1. A hospital research laboratory in Singapore uses a bioprinter to make small pieces of human skin. A computer controls a nozzle that deposits a gel containing living human skin cells and nutrients, one thin layer at a time, to build up the tissue. The printed skin is then placed in a warm incubator.
   Explain why the printed skin must be kept in a warm incubator with nutrients after printing.2 marks
2. In many countries, patients with kidney failure wait years for a donor kidney. A donated organ must match the patient's tissue type, otherwise the patient's immune system may attack it and reject it, so patients take drugs that weaken their immune system for the rest of their lives. Researchers hope one day to print a replacement kidney using cells taken from the patient.
   Describe two advantages of a printed kidney made from the patient's own cells compared with a donor kidney.2 marks
3. A pharmaceutical company wants to test a new drug for its effect on the liver. Scientists print human liver tissue and place 20 samples of it in each of four solutions containing 0, 10, 50 and 100 micromolar concentrations of the drug for 48 hours. They then count the percentage of cells that are still alive. The mean percentages of living cells were 98%, 95%, 71% and 32% respectively.
   Explain why the scientists included samples with 0 micromolar of the drug and used 20 samples at each concentration.3 marks