Scientists just made mice 'see-through' using food dye — and humans are next

[Stevicus]

Scientists just made mice 'see-through' using food dye — and humans are next

A common food dye can turn the skin of living mice transparent, but we don't yet know if it'll work in humans.

www.livescience.com

A common food dye can turn the skin of living mice transparent, but we don't yet know if it'll work in humans.

After initial experiments showed that tartrazine could turn slices of chicken breast transparent, the team turned to lab mice. They rubbed a tartrazine solution onto the rodents' scalps and then observed the animals under a microscope.

"It takes a few minutes for the transparency to appear," study lead author Zihao Ou, an assistant professor of physics at the University of Texas at Dallas, said in a statement. "It's similar to the way a facial cream or mask works: The time needed depends on how fast the molecules diffuse into the skin."

The new technique hasn't been tested in humans yet. Our skin is about four times thicker than that of mice, which would make it harder for tartrazine to be absorbed into its deepest layer. But if future studies show that the dye works in humans and it is safe, it could become a useful medical tool, the research team says.

"Looking forward, this technology could make veins more visible for the drawing of blood, make laser-based tattoo removal more straightforward, or assist in the early detection and treatment of cancers," study co-author Guosong Hong, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford University, said in a statement.

I suppose this could be a safe and effective tool for viewing someone's insides. This could have quite a bit of potential. But it could also have interesting practical joke potential.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Scientists just made mice 'see-through' using food dye — and humans are next

A common food dye can turn the skin of living mice transparent, but we don't yet know if it'll work in humans.

www.livescience.com

I suppose this could be a safe and effective tool for viewing someone's insides. This could have quite a bit of potential. But it could also have interesting practical joke potential.

Despite the potential possibilities and benefits, I can't get past the idea that it would be cool at parties.

 

[Stevicus]

Despite the potential possibilities and benefits, I can't get past the idea that it would be cool at parties.

I'm reminded of the scene in "This is Spinal Tap" where Nigel is wearing a t-shirt which was made from his own chest x-ray. He seemed to believe that it was green.

It would be interesting to combine it with sunscreen and wear it at the beach. People could eat something really gross and you could watch it go down all the way to their stomach. This could be a lot of fun.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I like human nudity , but that's just going too far.

 

[Revoltingest]

Despite the potential possibilities and benefits, I can't get past the idea that it would be cool at parties.

So someone who had a sex change could be a
transparent trans parent.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

If this is a common food dye, and it is so easily adsorbed, what permanent harm is it dong to us.

 

[Stevicus]

If this is a common food dye, and it is so easily adsorbed, what permanent harm is it dong to us.

It's still in the testing stages, but I don't think they've tried it on humans yet. It could work, but that has yet to be seen.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

It's still in the testing stages, but I don't think they've tried it on humans yet. It could work, but that has yet to be seen.

We eat the food dye all the time. We just haven't used it as skin cream.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

So someone who had a sex change could be a
transparent trans parent.

I'm not sure I want to go there. But nice work on the wordsmithing.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

If this is a common food dye, and it is so easily adsorbed, what permanent harm is it dong to us.

I don't know, but doctors should be able to see it.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

It's still in the testing stages, but I don't think they've tried it on humans yet. It could work, but that has yet to be seen.

I can't wait to not see it.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I like human nudity , but that's just going too far.

Not interested in seeing a well-turned aortic arch?

 

[sayak83]

Scientists just made mice 'see-through' using food dye — and humans are next

A common food dye can turn the skin of living mice transparent, but we don't yet know if it'll work in humans.

www.livescience.com

I suppose this could be a safe and effective tool for viewing someone's insides. This could have quite a bit of potential. But it could also have interesting practical joke potential.

I think currently, we are better at treating mice than human. Soon we will have immortal, ever young transparent mice, immune to all diseases running about.

I can see it....the planet of the mice....the meek will inherit the earth....

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I think currently, we are better at treating mice than human. Soon we will have immortal, ever young transparent mice, immune to all diseases running about.

I can see it....the planet of the mice....the meek will inherit the earth....

Is that the meek or the squeak?

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I don't know, but doctors should be able to see it.

Most food dyes are banned in one country or another. Whole classes of dyes in some cases.
Doctors rarely know what causes what with any certainty, that is whey we have to have researchers working on these problems.