A team of scientists have developed a 3D printer that can be used to print out vaccines. The new biological 3D printer is being tested and it would be a while before anything is official, but according to the team of scientists who develop this device, people will be able to print out vaccines at their own home.
J. Craig Venter, one of the study’s authors stated: “In the near future you might be able to download and take your flu shot in front of your computer. If this works, then epidemics will become a thing of the past”
Venter spoke at the Wired Health Conference which is currently being held in New York. Venter is best known for his help learning more about the human genome. The renowned scientist also said that his team is currently testing a ‘biological teleporter’.
Venter described their new device as a “3D Printer that can print a biological footprint”. It is capable of stringing together DNA and printing different vaccines and drugs. Venter also shared his concerns about this new invention and more importantly the safety issues around it. He stated: “Everyday we receive a ton of spam mail and e-mails by people who make fake drugs and profit from them”.
The ‘biological teleporter’ which Venter mentioned is currently being developed and if everything goes according to plan, it will be soon used to search for Martian DNA on Mars and the information back to Earth where it will be reassembled and studied.
