Feature Health & Medicine

Cartilage Creation

New joint tissue could keep people moving, reducing need for knee or hip replacements

By Nathan Seppa

- More than 2 years ago

Cartilage, the shock absorber of the body, has been bearing the brunt of a modern lifestyle.

Glassy, resilient bone-capping cartilage has long eluded tissue engineers trying to grow it in the lab. Biophoto Assoc./Getty Images

When cartilage wears away, bone rubs on bone (as shown in this color-enhanced X-ray of a 76-year-old man’s knee).