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Organ Chips

With an eye towards saving money and addressing ethical considerations involved with animal and human testing, scientists have invented a computer chip-sized device that mimics the function and dynamics of a living organ.

Using appropriate cells and fluid flow dynamics, the organ-on-a-chip reproduces normal levels of organ functionality and can be connected to other organ chips to systematically track the interactions of a whole system or entire body.

When exposed to disease, medicines, or other chemicals, the chips allow for the analysis of biochemical, genetic, and metabolic activities that would also occur when subject to a human or animal host.