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Scientists have grown a replacement, genetically modified skin to cover almost the entire body of a seven-year-old Syrian boy who was suffering from a devastating genetic disorder. The treatment marks a rare and striking success for the field of regenerative medicine, which has been struggling to transform futuristic-sounding science into therapies that make a difference to patients.
Two years on the boy is doing well, his doctors said. His skin is healthy, he doesn’t need to take medication or use ointments, he is back at school, plays football and when he gets a cut it heals normally. A potential risk of the treatment is that the introduction of genetic changes could increase the chances of skin cancer – although the study found no evidence that dangerous mutations had been caused.
Two years on the boy is doing well, his doctors said. His skin is healthy, he doesn’t need to take medication or use ointments, he is back at school, plays football and when he gets a cut it heals normally. A potential risk of the treatment is that the introduction of genetic changes could increase the chances of skin cancer – although the study found no evidence that dangerous mutations had been caused.