No, not printing ON body parts, but actually using a 3D bio-printer to manufacture skin, muscle and blood vessels. And that's just to start. Because the machines have the ability to make branched tubes, the technology could, for example, be used to create the networks of blood vessels needed to sustain larger printed organs, like kidneys, livers and hearts.

Amazing technology (and slightly creepy). Imagine being the IT guy at that hospital. "The printer's jammed again. Ewwww!"

http://www.economist.com/science-techno ... d=15543683

I watched a presentation by Dr. Atala a couple of weeks ago on TED.
He goes into some of the finer details about the process, which is immensely fascinating.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/anthony_atala_growing_organs_engineering_tissue.html

Maybe they can print me up a steak.

we're out of toner again Ted

I'm buying stock in the Fleshlight company NOW.

It disturbs me to think that sex toys might now come with "care and feeding" manuals.

In the horrible sci-fi world awaiting it'd JUST be the body part you want. The device surrounding it would sustain the tissue enough so it wasn't dying. Then when it all starts to go sour the wires from the sustaining device would come alive while some dude was "working" with it and wires would should out of it around his wang and eventually consume him. Ted Rami can play that role, it'd be awesome!

I'm amazed that the printer only costs $200K!

Scarily enough, One-Eyed Monster pretty much already covers all of that.