Science question: 3d printing & human cloning

[Altercator]

Considering that we 3D print out a human organ, will 3D printing give way to full human cloning?

 

[Heronblade]

First off, we can't print out any full organs as of the moment, just scraps of tissue. Bio-printers able to handle simple functional organs are on the horizon, but won't be around for a decade or more.

Secondly, the structures we can manage to make via 3d printing are very simple in form. More complex structures such as cardiovascular muscle tissue, much less that of the brain, are far beyond anything we can reliably predict being able to manage.

It is theoretically possible that one day we will be able to 3D print a full body a la that one scene in the old classic "The Fifth Element", but I don't care to speculate about future tech when the variables are that uncertain.

 

[Luftwaffles]

Maybe in the future, it'll be something like this


Complete with UV reactive contact lenses.

 

[Dangit2019]

There would still be the issue of morality as 3D Printers can be defective, which doesn't mean much when you're printing out a wrench, but it sure means a lot when you're printing out a conscious person...

 

[lechat]

i would say nano tech would make the first human print out before 3d printers do but actually managing to animate that body will be a whole other challenge

 

[Esotera]

No, mostly because there's no point making a printer that clones humans. Researching 3D printing and cloning separately is more likely to advance technology.