One of my favorite movies is the original Blade Runner. If you are unfamiliar with the movie, it takes place in Los Angeles in the year 2019. Bioengineered humans have been created to work on off world colonies. Harris Ford is hired to track down a group of the bioengineered humans who escaped back to Earth that culminates in what is regarded as one the greatest science fictions movies ever created.
In our 2018 we are nowhere near having a fully bioengineered human fighting Harris Ford but we do have bioengineered organs. While still in testing phases some labs have had success with kidney, liver and heart creation. Many other organs are making progress as well. Some lab have used stem cells techniques with mice and other labs have used tissue engineering. This will allow us to tailor make organs for those on transplant lists.
What interests me the most about bioengineered organs is the benefit for people suffering from impactful genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis. The DNA in my family holds the genetic markers to pass on cystic fibrosis each generation. Individuals who have cystic fibrosis typically have lung transplants between the age of 30 and 35. With tailor made organs the likelihood of a transplant getting rejected is lowered. This also frees up the waiting lists which can last year’s looking for a suitable donors. All thought this all seems to be taking place in an alternate 2019 the future is now, minus the Harris Ford bounty hunter. 