Growing Stem Cells with a Plastic Toy

Michelle Khine, a professor at the University of California, Merced, has built microfluidic devices with Shrinky Dinks. She developed complicated 3D chips by stacking layers of polymer film. Shrinky Dinks, which shrink when exposed to oven heat, are ideal to make tiny breeding grounds for stem cells. There is even a how-to video that was made to show you how you to can do this at home. Talk about weird science!

Implications - Stem cells are interesting because with the right tools and patience, they can turn into practically any type of tissue. Before they turn into tissue, they have to grow into a cluster called an embryoid body. This is usually very difficult, but Khine and her team discovered that using Shrinky Dinks makes the process much easier.