More and more of the body is becoming, if not obsolete, then certainly replaceable. But which of our body parts can be engineered today, and which will we have to make do with?

Building bones

Implants that copy the simple structural job of skeletal tissue are the easiest to build. One UK woman suffering from rheumatoid arthritis was recently left with only two of her original joints after having the rest replaced by metal and plastic alternatives.

Hips, teeth and vertebral discs can all be replaced, and customised to match the patient. A 3D printer can even be used to tailor-make parts within hours for a perfect fit, useful after accidents. One device prints "bone" using a new porous polymer that is nearly as strong as the real thing.   Read More...