I don't know how it would work for bottom surgery as for that it would necessarily be someone else's cells

If it requires differentiated cells, right? So the next step is to grow stem cells into vaginal cells.

But if you could get cootch cells from your mother or sister, that would be...well, weird, but still.

So the next step is to grow stem cells into vaginal cells.

That is not as implausible as it sounds at first, but I know so very little about the latest stem cell research. I do think the goal, not just in this case but for transplants generally, is finding ways to culture and grow needed organs from the patient's own cells.

I just got back from a haircut, where the stylist told me her sister just had a baby and wound up with a (white fonted for ick) hematoma of the labia. Apparently, it swelled up like a grapefruit .

I mean, since we're talking about vaginas.

Turner syndrome (X0) women have vaginas, so the information in a genetic male's cells should be sufficient without adding any new genes.

I don't know how it would work for bottom surgery as for that it would necessarily be someone else's cells, and therefore prone to all the complications of transplant surgery

Yeah, it was cellls grown on a scaffold--it wasn't specifically "vagina cells", so I don't see why it wouldn't work. Which would be pretty neat, though I don't know how well it would compare to what's already available. Or how much sensation is in those new parts (I mean, blood vessels go there but do nerves grow in? Seems like if they did it would take a long long while and maybe be uncomfortable)

Oh, for god's sake. I've just started my newest freelance gig (as in, started it today), and the managing editor sends me an email and says that he just saw the budget for their fiscal year that starts July 1, and they want to eliminate freelance positions and hire in-house people.

That blows. A lot. I mean, I appreciate him telling me about it (and he said that eliminating freelancers is something that was always suggested in the past, but never followed up on, so it's possible that they won't follow up on it again this year), but it still blows. Because I was counting on this as a regular gig. I realize jobs can end any time; I'm not stupid.

It's just very disheartening to find out the day I start this job that it's almost certainly ending in 3 months.

I am very discouraged right now.

Tep, is there any way for this to turn into good news (i.e. a full time job instead of freelancing)?

ION, Arthur C Clarke's 1964 vision of The Future.

[link]

Steph, that totally sucks. I'm sorry.

As for me, I am off work, which is nice because work has been UNUTTERABLY boring. I'm just grinding through a backlog of stupid small projects that are almost completely devoid of any substance, just paperwork that needs to be generated and filed so we can say we did it. Plus my standing desk isn't in yet, and the guys who sit next to the windows draw the blinds at noon every day so I am not getting much daylight. Bah.

So today I slept late, had some leftover pizza, started a load of laundry, and now I'm going to walk the dog and then go to the gym.

Meanwhile, I'm pondering painting my bookshelves. Right now they're all a pale yellow/cream shade, but I'm wondering how awesome it would be to paint the rear panels bright red or blue. Too much, or just fabulous enough?

There are people doing very interesting work these days where they take ordinary support cells from the (rat) brain, regress them back a couple of stages to an less differentiated state, and then coax them to develop into neurons, which are able to find a way to make the right connections.

Amazing things are on the way, whether we are ethically and emotionally prepared for them or not.

Tep, is there any way for this to turn into good news (i.e. a full time job instead of freelancing)?

They want someone in-house, and they're located in Chicago. I'm not saying I wouldn't move for a job, but I wouldn't for this job.