TED Conversations

Jerry Whidby

This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »

Could you grow a house?

Could you print a scaffold in the shape of a house, and then use the same techniques discussed in Anthony Atala's TED Talk http://www.ted.com/talks/anthony_atala_printing_a_human_kidney.html to coat the scaffold with tree cells? Possibly spraying it on as seen on this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXO_ApjKPaI

Keeping the structure alive would of course require a root structure. Perhaps one that already exist, or one that is fabricated in a similar manner. Imagine durable, self sustained, self repairing, eco friendly structures.

Related Talks:
Topics: science technology
+2
Share:

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.

  • thumb

    Linda Zhou

    • 0
    Nov 1 2012: i will be too scared to live a house made by my own cell.
    how can someone think about that....

    • Jerry Whidby

      • 0
      Nov 1 2012: If you are referring to Mr. Joachim's article, I believe he is using pig cells. He made a few jokes in the video that might lead you to believe that he wanted to use human cells. He does clarify this in the comments of that article. I think that using tree cells would be a more practical approach. If you have ever owned a leather jacket, then you know that you have to condition the leather a lot. I can not imagine what it would take to maintain an entire house made of skin cells that are constantly exposed to UV rays. On the other hand trees love the sun.
      • thumb

        Linda Zhou

        • 0
        Nov 2 2012: Yeah, cell from tree would be confortable to me.
        Will the cell still living when they are cultivated to become our house? If they are dead, the tree house will not use the sun. If they are not, then it will attract pest and other living form.

        • Jerry Whidby

          • 0
          Nov 2 2012: That would be my preference. Producing a living tree would have many benefits. Even if that were not possible on sight, perhaps they could farm the houses. The house might not be alive when delivered, but it would be a wood structure just like many people already live in.

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.